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COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  FLOWERS 
MEMORIAL  COLLECTION 


TRINITY  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 
HIRHAM.  N.C. 


Established  by  the  family  of 
COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  ELOWERS 


Date.. 


mi- 


THE  LIFE 


OF- 


m 


FHOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 


BY  AN  EX-CADET. 


JCOSD  EDITION,  REVISED  AND  EVLAftGEfD  PV  T!ir   lUTHOR^ 


RICHMOND: 

TAMES   E/GOOP 

1864. 


: «_ 

Entered  according  to  an  act  of  Congress, 

By  JAMES  E.  GOO'DE, 

In  tne  Clerk's  Office  of  the.  District  Court  of  the  Confederate  States, 

for  the  Eastern  district  of  Virginia. 


I 


to 
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   R.   S.   EWEIX, 


this  book: 


is 


DEDICATED. 


i 


317 


Q 


* 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


The  success  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work 
has  induced  the  publisher  to  undertake  its  repub- 
lication. 

The  book  has  been  carefully  revised  by  the  au- 
thor, and  considerably  enlarged.  In  the  absence 
of  official  information,  several  errors  unavoidably 
entered  into  the  original  work.  These  have  been 
corrected  in  the  present  edition;  and  (it  is  believed) 
the  book  has  been  very  greatly  improved. 

Profoundly  grateful  for  the  success  of  the  first 
edition,  the  author  offers  to  the  public  the  work 
in  its  present  form,  trusting  for  its  success  to  the 
same  generous  support  that  has  sustained  his  past 
labors. 

Richmond,  May  1,  1864. 


o  1 7  t 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


*  The  materials  from  which  this  book  has  been  prepared  have  been 
.collected  since  June  1861,  though  for  a  different  purpose. 

Up»m  the  death  of  General  Jackson,  the  author  determined  to  pre- 
pare a  sketch  of  his  life,  a  plan  which  he  had  had  in  contemplation 
tor  several  months.  He  had  fairly  entered  upon  his  task  when  he 
learned  that  a  distinguished  Southern  author  was  engaged  in  a 
similar  undertaking. 

Believing,  however,  that  there  is  room  enough  in  the  South  for 
two  such  books,  he  has  continued  his  labor,  and  the  result  of  it  is 
now  offered  to  the  public. 

He  had  just  put  the  work  in  press,  when  he  was  informed  that 
another  life  of  General  Jackson,  and  one  which  is  to  be  more  elab- 
orate than  any  yet  published,  was  being  prepared  by  the  Reverend 
Doctor  Dabney,  formerly  of  General  Jackson's  staff.  Feeling  as- 
sured, however,  that  there  is  still  room  for  his  book;  he  has  perse- 
vered and  the  work  is  at  last  ready. 

He  takes  this  opportunity  of  expressing  his  sincere  wish  that  the 
narratives  of  both  Captain  Cooke  and  Doctor  Dabney  may  meet 
with  the  same  success  that  he  desires  for  his  own. 

Many  of  the  incidents  related,  came  under,  the  immediate  obser- 
vation of  the  author,  and  the  remainder  are  drawn  from  authentic 
sources. 

The  book  was  completed  and  put  in  press  on  the  29th  day  of 
May,  but  the  failure  to  procure  paper,  and  other  difficulties  hard  to 
overcome,  have  prevented  its  appearance  at  an  earlier  period. 

October  1863. 


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL    T.    J.    JACKSON 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 


It  would  be  difficult  for  any  one  to  do  justice  to  the 
narration  of  such  a  life  as  that  of  Thomas  J.  Jackson — 
a  life  pure  and  spotless  as  the  dew  of  the  morning  ; 
grand  and  glorious  as  the  full  blaze  of  the  noontide  sun. 
To  a  stranger  such  a  task  must  be  an  impossibility;  and 
even  one  who  knew  and  loved  him,  may  well  pause  in 
►dismay  as  he  contemplates  the  magnitude  of  the  task  he 
has  imposed  upon  himself.  Many  will  enter  upon  such 
an  undertaking:  some  with  a  desire  to  preserve  to  the 
country  and  to  the  world  a  record  of  the  services  of  a 
good  and  great  man  ;  others  from  more  sordid  motives 
which  in  this  age  but  too  often  invade  the  most  sacred 
places.  Among  these  there  is  room  for  one  who  knew 
and  loved  him,  to  offer  his  humble  tribute  to  the  glorious 
dead  ;  and  though  that  tribute  may  be  imperfect,  it  will 
the  labor  of  love,  and  as  such,  it  is  hoped, 
will  prove  acceptable  to  those  to  whom  it  is  offered. 


10  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

General  Jackson  was  of  English  descent.  His  great 
grandfather  John  Jackson,  and  his  great  grandmother, 
emigrated  to  this  country  at  a  very  early  day,  and  settled 
upon  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac.  They  did  not  re- 
main there  long,  however,  but  soon  removed  to  what  is 
now  L  swis   county,  in  the  western  portion  of  "Virginia. 

Their  son  Edward  was  surveyor  of  Harrison  county, 
and  subsequently  represented  the  county  of  Lewis  in  the 
legislature  for  several  years. 

In  early  life,  his  son  Jonathan  Jackson,  who  was  born 
in  Lewis  county,  moved  to  the  town  of  Clarksburg  in 
Harrison  county,  for  the  purpose  of  studying  law  with 
his  cousin  Judge  John  Cr.  Jackson  of  that  place.  In  due 
time  lie  received  his  license  and  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  with  his  cousin  Judge  Jackson.  By 
his  practice  he  acquired  some  reputation  and  property, 
and  soon  after  entering  upon  his  duties  he  married  Miss 
JSTcal,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Neal  of  Wood  county.  By 
this  lady  he  had  four  children — two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. • 

Thomas  Jonathan  Jackson,  the  youngest  of  these 
children,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clarksburg  in  Harrison* 
county,  on  the  21st  day  of  January  1824.  When  he  was 
scarcely  three  years  old  his  father  died,  and  his  mother 
soon  followed.  Before  his  death  Mr.  Jackson  became 
involved  as  security  for  some  of  his  friends,  and  his  pro- 
perty was  swept  away.  The  children  were  thus  left  with- 
out any  means  of  support. 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  Thomas  was 
taken  by  an  uncle  to  Lewis  county.  This  uncle  was  liv- 
ing on  the  farm  on  which  the  father  of  Thomas  had  been 
born,  and  there  the  orphan  boy  remained  until  he  reached 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  11 

the  age  of  seventeen  years.  During  this  period  he  spent 
a  portion  of  his  time  in  working  on  the  farm,  and  the  re- 
mainder in  attending  an  old  field  school  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, where  he  received  the  rudiments  of  a  plain  English 
education. 

From  his  earliest  childhood  he  exhibited  a  remarkable 
degree  of  self-reliance  and  energy.  He  was  quiet  and 
reserved,  but  kind  and  gentle  in  his  feelings  and  man- 
ners. He  studied  hard  while  at  school,  and  was,  prompt 
and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  These  quali- 
ties exhibited  in  a  degree  remarkable  in  one  so  young, 
could  not  fail  to  attract  the  attention  and  win  the  admi- 
ration of  all  with  whom  he  was  thrown.  Nor  were  they 
allowed  to  pass  unrewarded.  The  people  of  Lewis  wish- 
ing to  assist  the  young  man  so  bravely  struggling  to  raise 
himself  in  the  world,  conferred  upon  him  the  office  of 
constable  of  the  county  when  he  was  but  sixteen  years 
old.  He  accepted  the  appointment,  and  in  spite  of  his 
extreme  youth,  discharged  his  new  duties  faithfully  and 
with  ability.  There  are  some  persons  in  this -world  to 
whom  God  gives  natures  and  characters  older  and  ma- 
turer  than  their  years,  and  young  Jackson  was  one  of 
these. 

In  his  seventeenth  year  he  solicited  and  received  an 
appointment  as  cadet  in  the  military  academy  at  AVcst 
Point,  and  to  accept  this  position,  resigned  the  office  of 
constable. 

It  is  related  of  him,  upon  what  seems  to  be  good  au- 
thority, that  as  soon  as  he  heard  that  there  was  a  vacancy 
at  West  Point,  he  determined  to  secure  it  for  himself. 
He  immediately  set  out  and  walked  along  distance through 
rain  and  mud  to  a  point  from  which  he  xjould  take  the 


12  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

stage  to  Washington  city.  Arriving  there  he  sought  out 
Mr.  Hays,  the  member  of  congress  for  his  district,  and 
travel-stained  and  with  his  face  flushed  with  excitement, 
presented  himself  before  him  and  told  him  that  he  wanted 
the  place  at  West  Point  then  vacant.  Astonished  and 
amused  by  such  a  request  coming  from  one  who  seemed 
so  humble  and  so  unsuited  to  such  a  position,  Mr.  Hays 
entered  into  conversation  with  young  Jackson  and  en- 
deavored to  dissuade  him  from  trying  to  enter  the  West 
Point  academy.  But  the  energetic  youth  was  not  to  be 
discouraged,  and  in  the  conversation  evinced  such  a 
marked  degree  of  intelligence,  that  his  application  was 
successful  and  he  received  the  desired  appointment. 

He  entered  the  military  academy  in  1842,  and  remained 
there  for  four  years.  While  a  cadet  he  was  noted  for  Ins 
unwavering  attention  to  his  duties.  His  sense  of  duty 
was  always  very  high,  and  his  performance  of  it  most 
faithful.  It  was  necessary  for  him  to  study  very  hard. 
His  mind  had  not  received  the  advantages  of  an  early 
education,  and  he  had  many  difficulties  to  overcome.  He 
was  never  content  with  a  partial  knowledge  of  anything : 
his  mind  never  relaxed  its  grasp  upon  a  subject  until  he 
had  thoroughly  mastered  it. 

On  the  1st  of  July  1846,  Cadet  Jackson  graduated 
with  high  distinction,  and  was  brevetted  second  lieutenant 
and  assigned  to  duty  with  the  first  regiment  of  artillery 
of  the  United  States  army.  The  war  with  Mexico  had 
begun,  and  there  the  young  and  the  brave  of  the  country, 
and  especially  of  the  South,  were  hastening,  burning 
with  a  noble  desire  to  distinguish  themselves  in  the  cause 
of  the  country. 

The  regiment  to  which  Lieutenant  Jackson  was  as- 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  13 

signed  was  already  in  Mexico  with  the  army  under  Gene- 
ral Taylor.  As  soon  as  he  received  his  orders  to  join  his 
regiment  in  Mexico,  he  lost  not  a  moment  in  proceeding 
there,  where  he  arrived  late  in  the  year  1846.  It  was 
not  his  fortune  to  see  any  active  service  while  under  the 
command  of  General  Taylor,  as  that  portion  of  the  regi- 
ment to  which  he  was  attached  was  not  engaged  in  any 
important  operations.  But  the  time  which  was  thus  af- 
forded him  for  studying  his  new  profession  and  duties 
was  not  wasted  in  idleness. 

Early  in  the  year  1847,  troops  were  drawn  from  Gene- 
ral Taylor's  army  and  sent  to  the  island  of  Lobos,  where 
General  Scott  was  organizing  an  expedition  against  the 
city  of  Vera  Cruz.  Lieutenant  Jackson  was  ordered  to 
that  point  with  his  battery. 

On  the  9th  of  March  1847,  the  army  of  General  Scott, 
landed  near  Vera  Cruz,  and  on  the  next  day  began  the 
investment  of  the  city.  This  work  was  begun  by  Gene- 
ral Worth,  and  was  carried  on  successfully.  Batteries 
commanding  the  city  were  erected  and  armed  with  siege 
and  naval  guns.  At  last  all  was  ready,  and  at  four 
o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  of  March,  the  bom- 
bardment began. 

Lieutenant  Jackson  was  assigned  the  command  of  one 
of  the  batteries  erected  for  the  destruction  of  the  devoted 
city.  Exposed  to  great  hardships,  he  exhibited  the  most 
unvarying  cheerfulness,  and,  the  object  of  a  heavy  fire, 
he  worked  his  guns  with  such  skill  and  courage  as  to  at- 
tract the  attention  of  the  commanding  general  and  re- 
ceive his  highest  commendation.  Eor  his  "gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct"  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 


14  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

After  the  fall  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  army  advanced  to- 
wards the  city  of  Mexico.  On  the  18th  of  April  the 
battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  was  fought  and  won.  In  this 
action  Captain  John  Bankhead  Magruder,  (who,  like 
Lieutenant  Jackson,  had  been  assigned  to  duty  with  the 
heavy  artillery),  led  the  party  that  stormed  the  enemy's 
works  at  Cerro  Gordo.  The  Mexicans  were  driven  from 
their  strong  position.  Captain  Magruder  was  the  first 
artillery  officer  to  enter  the  works.  He  captured  a  Mexi- 
can field  battery,  which  he  turned  and  served  with  great 
effect  upon  their  flying  columns.  General  Scott  observ- 
ing this,  rode  up  to  him  and  presented  him  with  the  guns, 
which  afterwards  became  so  famous  under  the  name  of 
" Magruder' '«  light  battery." 

Lieutenant  Jackson  was  very  anxious  to  be  transferred 
from  the  heavy  artillery  service  to  a  field  battery ;  and 
as  soon  as  he  found  that  his  friend,  Captain  Magruder, 
had  been  placed  in  command  of  one,  he  bent  every  energy 
to  secure  a  transfer  to  that  battery.  In  speaking  of  this 
in  after  years,  he  remarked  to  a  friend:  "I  wanted  to 
see  active  service.  I  wished  to  be  near  the  enemy  and 
in  the  'fight,  and  when  I  heard  John  Magruder  had  got 
his  battery,  I  bent  all  my  energies  to  be  with  him,  for  I 
knew  if  there  was  any  fighting  to  be  done,  Magruder 
would  be  on  hand." 

While  Jackson  was  thus  engaged,  the  army  continued 
to  push  on,  and  in  August  came  within  sight  of  the  city 
of  Mexico.  "From  almost  the  same  spot  where,  three 
hundred  years  before,  Cortes  and  his  followers  looked 
down  upon  the  distant  halls  of  the  Montezumas,  the  Ameri- 
can army  beheld  the  scenes  which  were  soon  to  be  made 
famous  by  the  gallant  deeds  they  were  to  achieve  there. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  15 

The  passes  on  the  direct  road  to  the  city  had  been  well 
fortified  and  garrisoned  by  the  Mexicans,  but  the  coun- 
try upon  the  flanks  had  been  left  unprotected  because 
their  commanders  deemed  it  utterly  impossible  for  any 
troops  to  pass  over  it  and  turn  their  positions.  El  Penon, 
the  most  formidable  of  these,  was  rcconnoitered  by  the 
engineers,  who  reported  that  it  would  cost  at  least  three 
thousand  lives  to  carry  it.  Not  wishing  to  make  so  great 
a  sacrifice  of  his  troops,  General  Scott  resolved  to  turn 
the  position  instead  of  attacking  it.  Iieconnoisances  of 
the  city  of  Mexico  and  its  defences  were  ordered,  and  !it 
was  discovered  that  the  works  on  the  south  and  west 
were  weaker  than  those  at  any  other  points.  General 
Scott  now  moved  to  the  left,  passed  El  Penon  on  the 
south,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  corps  of  skilful  engineers,  (fore- 
most among  whom  stood  Captain  Robert  E.  Lee),  moved 
his  army  across  ravines  and  chasms  which  the  Mexican 
commanders  had  pronounced  impassable,  and  had  left 
almost  entirely  unguarded.  General  Twiggs  led  the  ad- 
vance, and  halted  and  encamped  at  Chalco  on  the  lake  of 
the  same  name.  Worth  followed,  and  passing  Twiggs, 
encamped  at  the  town  of  San  Augustin,  eight  miles  from 
the  capital.  As  soon  as  Santa  Anna  found  that  the 
Americans  had  turned  El  Pefion  and  advanced  towards 
the  south  side  of  the  city,  he  left  that  fortress  and  took 
position  in  the  strong  fort  of  San  Antonio,  which  lay  di- 
rectly in  front  of  Worth's  new  position,  Northwest  of 
San  Antonio,  and  four  miles  from  the  city,  lay  the  little 
village  of  Churubusco,  which  had  been  strongly  fortified 
by  the  Mexicans.  A  little  to  the  west  of  San  Augustin 
was  the  fortified  camp  of  Contreras  with  a  garrison  of 
about  six  thousand  men.     In  the  rear  was  a  reserve  force 


16  Lii  LL 

of  twelve  thousand  men  lying  between  the  camp  and  the 
city.  The  whole  number  of  Mexicans  manning  these  de- 
fences was  about  thirty-five  thousand,  with  at  least  one 
hundred  pieces  of  heavy  and  light  artillery. 

General  Persifer  F.  Smith  was  ordered  to  advance 
with  his  brigade,  (the  1st  of  the  2d  division  of  regulars), 
and  carry  the  entrenched  camp  at  Contreras,  while 
Shields  and  Pierce  should  move  between  the  camp  and 
Santa  Anna  at  San  Antonio,  and  prevent  him  from  going 
to  the  assistance  of  the  force  at  Contreras.  At  3  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  August  1847,  the  ex- 
pedition  set  out  and  at  daylight  made  the  attack  on 
the  entrenched  camp,  which  was  carried  after  several 
hours  hard  fighting ;  those  of  the  enemy-  who  escaped 
retreating  to  Churubusco.  As  soon  as  Contreras  was 
captured,  the  army  advanced  upon  the  works  at  Churu- 
busco, and  after  a  stubborn  fight  succeeded  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  them. 

In  these  battles  Lieutenant  Jackson  behaved  most  gal- 
lantly, and  was  mentioned  "  for  gallant  services"  in  the 
official  report  of  General  Twiggs.  For  his  conduct  in 
these  engagements  he  was  brevetted  captain,  but  this 
promotion  did  not  reach  him  until  some  time  afterwards. 
Lieutenant  Jackson  had  obtained  his  transfer  to  the  light 
artillery  service,  and  was  ordered  to  report  to  Captain 
Magrudcr.  Of  his  conduct,  Captain  Magrudcr  in  his 
official  report,  (which  is,  singularly  enough,  addressed  to 
Captain  J.  Hooker),  speaks  as  follows  : 

"  I  reported  to  General  Twiggs,  and  was  ordered  by 
him  to  advance  towards  the  enemy's  battery.  *  *  * 
About  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  battery  was  placed  in  front  of 
the  enemy's  entrenchments  at  the  distance  of  about  nine 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  IT 

hundred  yards.  *  *  *  My  fire  was  opened  *  *  * 
and  continued  with  great  rapidity  for  about  an  hour.  *  * 
In  a  few  moments  Lieutenant  Jackson,  commanding  the 
second  section  of  the  battery,  who  had  opened  a  fire  upon 
the  enemy's  works  from  a  position  on  the  right,  hearing 
our  own  fire  still  farther  in  front,  advanced  in  handsome 
style,  and  beir  1  by  me  to  the  post  so  gallantly 

filled  by  Lieutenant  Johnstone,*  kept  up  the  fire  with 
great  briskness  and  effect.  *..-*#* 
Lieutenant  Jackson's  conduct  was  equally  conspicuous 
throughout  the  whole  day,  and  I  cannot  too  highly  com- 
mend him  to  major-general's  favorable  consideration." 

After  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Johnstone,  Jackson  be- 
came first  lieutenant  of  the  battery,  and  filled  that  post 
with  skill  and  distinction. 

On  the  8th  of  September  the  battle  of  El  Molino  del 
Rey  was  fought  and  won  by  the  American  army. 

Having  determined  to  carry  the  city  of  Mexico  by 
storm,  General  Scott  gave  orders  for  the  final  assault. 
On  the  morning  of  the  13th  September  1847,  the  attack 
was  begun,  and  by  night  the  strong  castle  of  Chapultepec 
and  the  Belen  and  San  Cosme  gates  of  the  city  had  been 
carried  by  the  American  troops.  Early  the  next  morn- 
ing (the  14th)  the  city  was  taken  possession  of.  In  the 
actions  which  led  to  the  capture  of  the  city,  Lieutenant 
Jackson  behaved  with  the  most  conspicuous  gallantry, 
and  as  a  reward  for  his  services  was  brevetted  major. 

In  his  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Chapultepec, 
General  Scott  speaks  of  him  as  follows : 

"To  the  north  and  at  the  base  of  the  mound  inaces- 


*  ThiL'  officer  had  fallen  a  few  minutes  before. 

3 


LIEUT 

sible  on  that  side,  llic  11th  infantry  under  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Herbert,  and  the  14th  under  Colonel  Trousdale, 
and  Captain  Magruder's  field  battery  1st  artillery,  one 
section  advanced  under  Lieutenant  Jackson — all  of  Til- 
low's  division — had,  at  the  same  time,  some  spirited 
affaii  inst  superior  numbers,  driving  the  enemy  from 

a  lattery  in  the  road  and  capturing  a  gun.  In  these  the 
officers  and  corps  named  gained  merited  praise.  *  *  *  * 
Having  turned  the  forest  on  the* west,  and  arriving  oppo- 
site- ta  the  north  centre  of  Ohapul tepee,  Worth  came  up 
with  the  troops  in  the  road  under  Colonel  Trousdale,  and 
aided  by  a  Hank  movement  of  a  part  of  Garland's  brigade, 
in  taking  the  one  gun  breastwork,  then  under  fire  of 
Lieutenant  Jackson's  section  of  Magruder's  battery." 

In  the  official  report  of  General  Worth,  I  find  the  fol- 
lowing complimentary  notice  of  the  brave  young  artille- 
rist : 

u  After  advancing  some  four  hundred  yards  we  came  to 
a  battery  which  had  been  assailed  by  a  portion  of  Ma- 
gruder's field  guns — particularly  the  section  under  the 
gallant  Lieutenant  Jackson,  who,  although  he '  had  lost 
most  of  his  horses  and  many  of  his  men,  continued  chi- 
valrously at  his  post  combatting  with  noble  courage." 

In  closing  his  report,  General  Worth  tenders  his  ac- 
knowledgments to  Lieutenant  Jackson  "for  gallant  con- 
duct." 

General  Pillow  says : 

"  I  had  placed  Colonel  Trousdale  with  the  11th  and 
1  1th  regiments,  and  one  section  of  Magruder's  battery, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Jackson,  on  the  road  lead- 
ing on  the  left  of  Chapultepcc  to  the  city,  with  instruc- 
tions to  advance  on  that  road.     *    *   .*  ;.*     Magruder's 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  19 

field  battery  engaged  a  battery  and  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  in  the  road  immediately  on  the  west  of  Chapulte- 
pec.  The  advanced  section  of  the  battery,  under  the 
command  of  the  brave  Lieutenant  Jackson,  was  dread- 
fully cut  up  and  almost  disabled.  *  *  *  * 
Captain  MGgruder's  field  battery,  one  section  of  which 
was  served  with  great  gallantry  by  himself,  and  the  other 
by  his  brave  lieutenant,  Jackson,  in  the  face  of  a  galling 
fire  from  the  enemy's  entrenched  positions,  did  invaluable 
service  preparatory  to  the  general  assault." 

The  account  given  in  the  report  of  Captain  Magrudcr 
is  more  complete,  and  I  give  it  entire,  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible. This  report  embraces  descriptions  of  events  which 
occurred  on  the  8th,  11th,  12th,  13th  and  14th  of  Sep- 
tember.    It  is  as  follows  : 

"  On  the  8th  instant  at  daylight,  I  was  directed  by 
Major-general  Pillow  to  move  rapidly  from  the  hacienda, 
near  Mixcoac,  through  Tacubaya,  to  support,  if  necessary, 
Major-general  Worth's  division,  then  fiercely  engaged 
with  the  enemy  near  Chapultepcc.  This  order  was  com- 
plied with,  and  I  arrived  on  the  field  in  time  to  witness 
the  defeat  of  the  enemy  *       *      and  to  assist  in 

driving  off  a  large  body  of  cavalry  which  threatened  our 
left  flank  and  rear  ;  the  latter  was  /lone  by  a  few  well 
directed  shots  from  the  section  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Jackson.  *  *  *  On 
the  9th  the  division  occupied  the  village  of  La  Piedad,  in 
front  of  which  a  section  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Jackson  was  placed  ;  another  being  on  the  Piedad  road. 
Finding  that  Lieutenant  Jackson's  section  was  nearer  the 
enemy's  lines,  and  that  no  attack  would  probal 
place  on  the  Piedad  road,  I  took  my  post,  on  the  10th, 


S,^*r :  V 


20  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

with  this  advanced  section,  retaining  with  me  Lieuten- 
ant Jackson.  *  On  the  morning  of 
the  13th,  I  was  directed  by  Major-general  Pillow  com- 
manding, to  place  the  latter  section,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Jackson,  at  the  opposite  angle — that  is,  on 
the  left  flank  of  Chapultepec.  *  *  •  *  As 
soon  as  our  storming  parties  advanced  sufficiently  near 
the  enemy  to  render  my  fire  dangerous  to  our  own  troops, 
I  received  orders  to  join  the  other  section  of  the  battery 
at  the  left  angle,  and  holding  it  in  hand  until  the  main 
work  was  carried,  to  dash  forward  upon  the  retreating 
foe.  On  reaching  the  spot  where  Lieutenant  Jackson's 
section  ought  to  have  been,  I  found  Lieutenant-colonel 
Herbert  with  but  seventy  men  threatened  seriously  by 
the  approach  of  a  large  body  of  infantry  and  cavalry. 
I  had  determined  to  leave  one  piece  at  this  point  and  to 
unite  the  other  with  Lieutenant  Jackson's  section,  when 
I  received  a  message  from  him  requesting  a  reinforce- 
ment of  old  troops.  Genera]  •  near,  I  com- 
municated with  him,  and  was  ordered  to  withdraw  Lieu- 
tenant Jackson's  section  to  the  angle  above  mentioned. 
As  I  rode  up  into  this  section  I  was  dismounted  by  a 
grapeshot,  but  without  material  injury,  and  succeeded  in 
finding  Lieutenant  Jackson,  whose  section  was,  however, 
so  situated  as  to  render  it  more  unsafe  to  return  than  to 
remain  where  it  was.  *  *  ;:  Lieutenant 
Jackson  reports  that  he  was  ordered  to  that  position  by 
Colonel  Trousdale  of  the  14th  infantry,  under  whose 
command  he  had  fallen  ;  that  on  finding  a  battery  of  the 
enemy  supported  by  a  large  force  of  infantry  within  short 
range  of  him  across  the  road,  he  fired  as  soon  as  lie  could 
bring  a  piece  into  battery,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  21 

piece  and  work,  after  which  the  infantry  entered  it.  When 
I  arrived,  Lieutenant  Jackson  was  still  in  the  advance, 
having  caused  a  piece  to  be  lifted  by  hand  over  the  ditch. 
I  detached  instantly  a  few  men  to  disentangle  and  bring 
up  the  disabled  piece  ;  and  passing  the  ditch,  now  nearly 
filled  up  by  the  infantry,  soon  overtook  Lieutenant  Jack- 
son, who  had  fired  several  times  upon  the  enemy's  re- 
treating columns  before  my  arrival.  '  *  I  beg 
leave  to  call  the  attention  of  the  major-general  command- 
ing the  division  to  the  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Jackson  of 
the  1st  artillery.  If  devotion,  industry,  talent  and  gal- 
lantry are  the  highest  qualities  of  a  soldier,  then  he  is 
entitled  to  the  distinction  which  their  possession  confers. 
I  have  been  ably  seconded»in  all  the  operations  of  the 
battery  by  him  ;  and  upon  this  occasion,  when  circum- 
stances placed  him  in  command  for  a  short  time  of  an  in- 
dependent section,  he  proved  himself  eminently  worthy 
of  it," 

\  Among  the  many  traditions  concerning  Lieutenant 
Jackson's  exploits  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  which  arc 
preserved  with  the  most  scrupulous  fidelity  by  the  cadets 
of  the  Military  Institute,  is  one  relating  to  his  conduct 
in  the  battle  of  Chapultepec.  I  give  it  as  it  is  told  there. 
Lieutenant  Jackson  had  been  placed,  with  his  section 
of  the  battery,  in  front  of  a  formidable  battery  of  the 
enemy  which  was  protected  by  a  breastwork.  His  sec- 
tion had  suffered  fearfully  from  the  enemy's  fire,  and  he 
had  lost  many  men.  Many  of  those  who  remained  un- 
hurt, were  endeavoring  to  shelter  themselves  from  the 
terrible  fire  which  the  enemy  was  hurling  upon  them. 
Lieutenant  Jackson  and  a  sergeant  remained  by  one  of 
the  guns  loading  and  firing  as  coolly  as  if  they  had  been 


22  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

only  at  artillery  practice.  While  in  this  situation,  Cap- 
tain Magruder  arrived  with  orders  from  General  AV  orth 
to  remove  the  section.  *This  was  found  to  be  impracti- 
cable. The  men  were  called  to  their  guns  again,  assist- 
ance was  sent  forward  by  General  Worth,  and  the  battery 
advanced  nearer  to  the  enemy's  works,  not  for  an  instant 
slackening  its  fire.  The  enemy  abandoned  the  work  and 
fled,  and  the  American  troops  including  Jackson's  com- 
mand, entered  and  took  possession  of  it. 

In  1858  the  graduating  class  at  the  Military  Institute 
resolved  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  story  by  question- 
ing Major  Jackson  himself.  Accordingly  one  of  them 
related  the  incident  as  he.  had  heard  it,  and  turning  to 
Major  Jackson,  asked : 

"Is  it  true,  major?" 

Major  Jackson  smiled  quietly  and  replied  that  it  was. 

"  That  was  a  very  hot  place,  was'nt  it,  major  ?"  asked 
another  of  the  class. 

"  Yes,  sir — very  hot,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Why  didn't  you  run,  major  ?"  asked  a  third  abruptly. 

A  suppressed  laugh  ran  around  the  class.  Major  Jack- 
son smiled  and  replied  : 

"  I  was  not  ordered  to  do  so.  If  I  had  been  ordered 
to  run  I  would  have  done  so  ;  but  I  was  directed  to  hold 
my  position,  and  I  had  no  right  to  abandon  it." 

The  reply  was  eminently  characteristic  of  the  gallant 
soldier.  Duty  was  with  him  the  first  thought ;,  and  in 
the  performance  of  it  no  obstacle  was  too  great  to  be 
overcome. 

It  is  related  also  of  him,  that  during  the  time  his  sec- 
tion was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  while  his  men 
were  trying  to  shelter  themselves  from  the  storm  of  balls 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  23 

which  swept  around  them,  paying  no  attention  to  his  re- 
monstrances, he  walked  out  into  the  road,  and  pacing  up 
and  down  before  his  guns  exposed  to  the  heavy  fire,  called 
to  the  men — "  Come  back  to  your  guns.  This  is  nothing. 
Don't  you  see  they  can't  hurt  me?" 

The  capture  of  the  city  of  Mexico  struck  a  death  blow 
to  the  power  of  the  enemy.  Shortly  afterwards  peace 
was  declared  and  the  army  returned  to  the  United  States. 

This  for  awhile  closed  the  military  career  of  Major 
Jackson,  which,  tfiough  short,  had  been  most  brilliant. 
He  had  joined  the  army  in  Mexico  late  in  1846,  an  un- 
known brevet  second  lieutenant  of  artillery,  with  nothing 
to  depend  upon  for  promotion  but  his  individual  efforts, 
and  in  the  brief  campaign  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,  had  reached  the  high  rank  of  major — a  series  of 
promotions  unequalled  by  those  of  any  other  person  con- 
nected with  the  army  of  General  Scott. 

The  severe  service  through  which  he  passed  in  Mexico, 
together  with  the  climate  of  that  country,  had  so  im- 
paired the  health  of  Major  Jackson,  that  shortly  after 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  forced  to  resign  his  commis- 
sion in  the  army  and  retire  to  private  life. 

In  1851  he  applied  for  and  received  the  appointment 
of  professor  of  natural  and  experimental  philosophy  and 
astronomy  and  the  post  of  instructor  of  artillery  at  the 
Military  Institute  of  Virginia,  situated  near  the  town  of 
Lexington  in  the  county  of  Rockbridge.*  He  immedi- 
ately entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  and  re- 
mained at  the  Institute  until  the  year  1861. 

*  It  has  been  said  that  Major  Jackson  received  Lis  appointmeut  in 
1852.  Gen.  Smith,  superintendent  of  the  V.  M.I.,  states  that  the  ap- 
pointment was  made  in  March  1851. 


x 


24  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

While  living  in  Lexington  he  made  a  profession  of  re- 
ligion and  connected  himself  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  having  for  his  pastor  that  good  old  man,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  White.  After  connecting  himself  with  the  church, 
Major  Jackson  became  an  active  and  prominent  member 
of  it,  and  filled  successively  and  almost  during  the  entire 
period  of  his  residence  in  Lexington,  important  secular 
positions  in  it.  His  zeal  and  activity  in  the  cause  of 
religion  were  always  among  his  most  striking  character- 
istics, but  while  he  labored  constantly,  he  labored  quietly 
and  modestly. 

Shortly  after  his  removal  to  Lexington,  he  married 
Miss  Junkin,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Junkin,  4;he  presi- 
dent of  Washington  college.  The  lady  did  not  long  sur- 
vive her  marriage.  By  this  union  Major  Jackson  had 
one  child,  a  daughter,  who  died  in  infancy.  Several 
years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  Miss 
Morrison  of  North  Carolina,  who  is  still  living.  By  this 
second  marriage  he  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  born  a  few 
months  before  his  death. 

The  life  of  Major  Jackson,  while  a  professor  at  the 
Institute,  was  marked  by  very  little  of  importance.  It 
was  quiet  and  peaceful,  but  always  useful.  For  nearly 
ten  years  he  continued  patiently  and  humbly  to  implant 
in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  youth  of  Virginia  who 
were  placed  under  his  charge,  those  teachings  which  have 
since  enabled  them  to  win  for  themselves  immortal  fame, 
and  to  serve  their  country  so  well  in  her  hour  of  need. 
The  Military  Institute  of  Virginia  has  furnished  to  the 
South  a  number  of  most  able  and  accomplished  officers, 
and  who  shall  say  that  the  hand  of  God  did  not  place 
Major  Jackson  in  his  humble  position  in  order   that  he 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  25 

might  aid  in  preparing  the  youth  of  his  native  state  for 
the  trials  and  services  which  were  one  day  to  be  required 
of  them.* 

Major  Jackson  was  not  as  popular  among  the  cadets  as 
were  some  of  the  other  professors  ;  but  none  possessed  in 
such  an  exalted  degree  their  respect  and  deference.  He 
was  quiet  and  sometimes  stern  in  his  deportment.  He 
had  many  little  peculiarities  which  were  by  the  cadets 
deemed  wonderful.  His  quiet,  blunt  manner  was  con- 
sidered b}'  them  a  species  of  eccentricity  ;  and  the  pecu- 
liar style  in  which  he  gave  his  commands  when  at  drill 
with  the  battery,  (that  long,  drawling  style  so  common  to 
regular  officers),  never  failed  to  provoke  a  laugh.  In  the 
section  room  he  would  sit  perfectly  erect  and  motionless, 
holding  his  pencil  in  one  hand  and  his  class  book  in  the 
other,  listening  with  grave  attention  and  exhibiting  the 
great  powers  of  his  wonderful  memory,  which  was,  I 
think,  the  most  remarkable  that  ever  came  under  my  ob- 
servation. The  course  he  taught  was  the  most  difficult 
and  complicated  known  to  mathematics,  running  through 
at  least  half  a  dozen  text  books.  In  listening  to  a  reci- 
tation he  very  rarely  used  a  book.     He  was  ready  at  any 

•-Accompanying  the  annual  report  of  Adjutant-general  Richardson 
to  the  general  assembly  of  Virginia,  is  a  document  entitled  "  Memo- 
rial of  the  eleves  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  in  the  war  of  in- 
dependence of  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  18G1-62."  It  pre- 
sents a  list  of  the  graduates  of  that  institution  who  have  entered  the 
service,  the  positions  they  hold,  and  the  fates  of  those  who  have  been 
wounded  or  killed  in  battle.  Prom  this  it  appears  that  they  consist 
as  follows  : 

Brigadier-generals,  8;  colonels,  57j  lieutenant-colonels,  42;  majors, 
45;  captains,  110;  lieutenants,  7V  ;  volunteer  privates  ll.-.^of general 
and  regimental  staff,  81.     Tot;  '.   133 


26  lieutenant-general 

moment  to  refer  to  any  page  or  line  in  any  of  the  books 
.and  then  to  repeat  with  perfect  accuracy  the  most  difficult 
passages  that  could  be  referred  to.  Sometimes  he  would 
startle  his  classes  with  questions  the  most  irrelevant  to 
the  subject  of  the  recitation  and  which  very  few  were  able 
to  answer.  The  following  incident  may  serve  to  illustrate 
this  :  one  morning  in  1858  he  called  up  a  member  of  the 
graduating  class  and  propounded  the  following  question : 

"  Why  is  it  impossible  to  send  a  telegraphic  dispatch 
from  Lexington  to  Staunton?" 

The  cadet  seemed  surprised  at  being  asked  such  a  ques- 
tion, but  endeavored  to  account  for  the  difficulty  by  sta- 
ting that  the  iron  in  the  mountains  would  draw  the  mag- 
netic current  from  the  wires. 

A  smile  passed  over  the  major's  features,  and  he  cut 
him  short  in  his  explanation  with : 

"No,  sir.     You  can  take  your  seat." 

Another  was  called  up,  and  he  was  equally  unable  to 
shed  any  light  upon  the  mystery.  Another  shared  the 
.same  fate,  and  another  still,  and  all  the  while  Major  Jack- 
son evinced  in  his  quiet  way  the  greatest  amusement  at 
the  perplexity  of  the  unfortunate  individuals.  At  last 
question  had  gone  nearly  around  the  class.  A  young 
man,  whose  humor  and  audacity  had  ■  made  him  famous 
among  his  comrades,  was  called  up  and  asked  to  explain 
the  matter.  For  awhile  he,  too,  seemed  completely  non- 
plussed ;  but  then  his  countenance  suddenly  brightening, 
he  turned  to  the  major  and  exclaimed  slyly : 

"Well,  major,  I  reckon  it  must  be  because  there  is  no 
telegraph  between  the  two  places  !" 

"  You  arc  right,  sir,"  said  Major  Jackson,  now  as  grave 
as  a  judge.     "  You  can  take  your  seat." 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  27 

A  shout  of  laughter  greeted  this  remark,  and  the  major 
looked  on  as  calmnly  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and 
when  order  was  restored,  returned  to  the  subject  of  the 
recitation  with  the  most  perfect  coolness. 

His  even  temper  was  sorely  tried  by  the  annoyance  to 
which  the  cadets  subjected  him.  It  was  their  greatest 
delight  to  worry  the  professors — especially  "  Old  Jack," 
as  he  was  familiarly  called.  The  drill  battery  was  man- 
aged by  drag  ropes,  which  .were  manned  by  the  junior 
classes  ;  the  first  and  second  classes  acting  as  officers 
and  cannoniers.  At  drill  the  cadets  detailed  to  act  as 
horses,  would  play  all  kinds  of  pranks  upon  him.  Some- 
times a  lynch  pin  would  be  taken  from  the  axle  of  one  of 
the  gun  carriages,  and  the  wheel  would  of  course  run  off,, 
and  the  carriage,  caisson  or  limber,  as  the  case  might  be, 
break  down.  Again,  some  one  would  hang  a  small  bell 
inside  of  the  limber  box,  and  this  would  tinkle  merrily 
whenever  the  battery  would  move  off,  causing  the  cadets 
to  break  into  shouts  of  laughter.  Major  Jackson  would 
halt  the  battery  and  examine  every  piece,  but  could  never 
discover  where  the  bell  was  concealed,  and  not  finding  it, 
would  order  the  pieces  to  move  forward;  but  no  sooner 
would  they  move  off,  than  the  bell  would  begin  again 
its  merry  tinkle,  causing  renewed  shouts  of  laughter. 
Again,  the  officers  would  mimic  the  manner  in  which  he 
gave  his  commands.  One  movement  was  an  especial 
favorite  with   him — that   of   bri  :   the  battery  into 

echelon;  and  whenever  the  command  to  form  echelon, 
with  its  usual  accompaniment,  "right  oblique,  trot, 
march!"  was  given,  the  whole  parade  ground  would  ring 
with  the  commands  of  the  cadet  oi  uttered  in 

most  rediculously  drawling  manner.     One  evening  when 


28  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

this  had  been  carried  to  a  great  excess,  to  the  infinite 
amusement  of  the  corps,  the  adjutant  approached  Major 
Jackson  and  asked  him  how  he  was  pleased  with  the  drill. 

Very  much,  sir,"  replied  the  major.  Then  he  added, 
with  a  sly  smile  :  "  the  officers  gave  very  fine  commands 
this  afternoon." 

The  artillery  drills  were  very  uninteresting  to  the 
corps,  unless  cartridges  were  issued.  Then  I  have  never 
seen  any  of  the  famous  Light  batteries  of  either  the 
federal  or  confederate  armies  excel  them  in  proficiency 
of  drill  or  rapidity  of  movements.  As  soon  as  the  sound 
of  the  guns  would  fall  upon  his  ears,  a  change  would 
seem  to  come  over  Major  Jackson.  He  would  grow  more 
erect ;  the  grasp  upon  his  sabre  would  tighten  ;  the  quiet 
eyes  would  flash ;  the  large  nostrals  would  dilate,  and 
the  calm  grave  face  would  glow  with  the  proud  spirit  of 
the  warrior.  I  have  been  frequently  struck  with  this, 
and  have  often  called  the  attention  of  others  to  it.  Per- 
haps he  was  thinking  of  the  scenes  through  which  he 
had  passed  in  that  far-oil"  land,  with  whose  history  his 
name  is  so  imperishably  connected. 

No  one  for  an  instant  doubted  Major  Jackson's  skill 
and  talants,  (indeed  the  proofs,  of  them  were  too  constant 
and  striking  to  leave  room  for  doubt,)  but  he  sometimes 
made  some  laughable  mistakes,  at  which  none  seemed 
more  amused  than  himself. 

Upon  one  occasion  he  informed  one  of  his  classes  that 
the  clock  in  front  of  the  Institute  did  not  give  the  right 
time,  and  declared  his  intention  to  correct  it.  He  accor- 
dingly led  the  class  out  upon  the  parade  ground,  and 
arranging  his  instruments,  prepared  to  take  his  observa- 
tions  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  true  time.     He 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  29 

finished  his  work  about  half-past  twelve  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  to  his  great  astonishment  discovered  that 
it  was  nearly  seven  in  the  evening.  The  announcement 
of  the  result  created  a  great  deal  of  merriment,  in  which 
he  joined.  It  was  afterwards  discovered  that  the  instru- 
ment used  was  out  of  order,  and  the  observations  were 
necessarily  incorrect. 

A  cadet  was  once  dismissed  from  the  Institute  in  con- 
sequence of  a  charge  being  brought  and  sustained  against 
him  by  Major  Jackson.  Filled  with  rage  he  vowed  re- 
venge ;  and  arming  himself,  took  his  position  on  the  road 
leading  from  the  Institute  into *Lexino;ton  about  the  time 
Major  Jackson  usually  passed  by  on  his  way  to  meet  his 
classes,  intending  to  shoot  him  whenever  he  should  ap- 
pear. A  friend  heard  of  this,  and  meeting  Major  Jack- 
son on  his  way  to  the  Institute,  warned  him  of  his  danger 
and  urged  him  to  turn  back.  This  he  refused  to  do,  say- 
ing— "  Let  the  assassin  murder  me,  if  he  will !"  esteem- 
ing his  duty  more  important  than  his  life.  When  he 
reached  the  place  where  the  young  man  was  waiting  for 
him,  he  turned  to  him  and  gazed  calmly  at  him.  The 
young  man  turned  away  in  silence,  and  Major  Jackson 
continued  his  walk.  It  was  always  with  him  a  matter  of 
unpleasantness  to  be  compelled  to  bring  charges  against 
a  cadet,  and  he  would  seek  by  every  means  in  his  power, 
consistent  with  his  duty,  to  avoid  such  a  necessity.  When 
the  cadet  battery  "was  in  Charlestown  during  the  "  John 
Brown  war,"  \\6  chanced  to  see  in  front  of  one  of  the 
hotels,  a  number  of  cadets,  some  of  whom  had  been 
making  very  free  with  the  mean  whiskey  of  the  place. 
Suspecting  this,  Major  Jackson  turned  down  a  cross  street 
and  avoided  passing  the  group.     Had  he  recognized  the 


30  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

offenders,  they  would  have  been  dismissed,  and  he  wished 
to  avoid  seeing  them  in  order  that  he  might  not  be  forced 
to  report  them. 

It  was  a  fact  well  known  among  the  cadets,  that  he 
made  fewer  reports  than  any  other  professor,  and  that 
his  reports  were  the  most  difficult  to  have  removed.  The 
reason  of  this  is  obvious.  He  was  always  accessible  and 
ever  ready  to  render  assistance  to  those  who  needed  it. 
He  would  take  any  amount  of  trouble  to  aid  his  pupils  in 
mastering  the  difficulties  which  presented  themselves  to 
them.  But  no  one  could  be  at  all  familiar  with  him.  His 
reserve,  which  many  persons  called  coldness,  prevented 
this.  Yet  no  one  could  withhold  the  admiration  and 
esteem  which  such  a  nature  as  his  could  not  fail  to  com- 
mand. A  kinder,  more  generous  and  a  nobler  spirit  was 
never  placed  within  a  human  breast  than  that  which 
glowed  within  the  heart  of  Major  Jackson. 

Punctuality  and  promptness  were  among  his  most  stri- 
king characteristics,  and  he  never  neglected  an  opportu- 
nity to  commend  the  exhibition  of  these  qualities  by  other 
persons.  I  never  knew  him  to  be  late  but  once.  It  is  the 
custom  of  the  Institute  to  celebrate  with  great  pomp  the 
11th  of  November,  (the  anniversary  of  its  establishment). 
Upon  this  day  a  salute  is  always  fired  at  sunrise.  It  was 
Major  Jackson's  duty  to  superintend  the  salute  firing. 
Upon  one  occasion  he  chanced  to  oversleep  himself,  and  did 
not  reach  the  Institute  until  after  the  adjutant  of  the  corps 
had  fired  the  salute.  The  latter  officer,  when  he  saw  Major 
Jackson,  expected  to  receive  a  severe  reprimand  for 
firing  the  guns  before  the  arrival  of  his  superior.  Major 
Jackson,  however,  at  once  commended  his  promptness  in 
firing  the  salute,  and  explained  the  cause  of  his  delay. 


TIIOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  SI 

General  Smith,  the  superintendent  of  the  Institute,  in 
speaking  of  his  punctuality,  says  he  has  known  him  fre- 
quently to  pace  the  yard  in  front  of  headquarters,  in  the 
roughest  weather,  rather  than  be  too  late  to.  attend  to 
whatever  business  might  call  him  there. 

In  1859,  when  the  "John  Brown  raid"  occurred,  Ma- 
jor Jackson  was  ordered  to  Charlestown  with  the  cadet 
battery,  where  he  remained  until  after  the  execution. 
Those  who  witnessed  that  event  will  not  fail  to  remember 
the  attention  he  attracted  as  he  rode  out  of  the  town  in 
command  of  the  battery  on  the  morning  of  the  2nd  of 
December.  While  there  ho  gave  more  than  his  usual  at- 
tention to  the  training  of  the  cadets.  Every  morning  he 
exercised  them  at  the  guns  and  in  the  school  of  the  battery 
over  one  of  the  most  rugged  sections  of  country  in  the  state. 

In  1861,  when  the  proclamation  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
forced  the  South  to  fly  to  arms  in  defence  of  her  rights, 
Major  Jackson  was  ordered  by  Governor  Letcher  to  repair 
to  Richmond  and  take  command  of  the  "  Camp  of  instruc- 
tion," located  at  the  "  Fair  grounds"  near  the  city.  On 
the  20th  of  April  he  left  Lexington,  and  as  soon  as  he 
reached  Richmond,  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  du- 
ties. He  was  commissioned  a  colonel  in  the  state  forces — 
this  being  the  first  colonel's  commission  issued  by  tho 
state.  As  soon  as  he  had  taken  charge  of  "  Camp  Lee," 
he  bent  every  energy  to  accomplish  the  task  of  organi- 
zing and  disciplining  the  large  bodies  of  raw  troops  that 
were  flocking  in  daily  from  all  portions  of  the  state.  He 
did  not  remain  long  in  this  position,  as  his  services  were 
needed  at  another  point. 

The  confederate  government  seeing  that  Virginia  was 
to  be   the   theatre  of  war,  began  very  early  to  pour  its 


32  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

troops  into  that  state.  The  most  important  places  were 
occupied  and  fortified.  Among  these  was  the  town  of 
Harpers  Ferry,  which  was  built  upon  a  point  of  land  at 
the  confluence  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers. 
This  being  considered  a  place  of  great  importance,  a 
force  was  collected  there,  and  Colonel  Jackson  assigned 
the  command.  On  the  2d  of  May  1861,  he  took  com- 
mand at  Harpers  Ferry  and  began  to  place  the  post  in  a 
state  of  defence.  On  the  23d  of  May  he  was  relieved, 
and  succeeded  by  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  "  The 
force  at  that  point  then  consisted  of  nine  regiments  and 
two  battalions  of  infantry,  four  companies  of  artillery 
with  sixteen  pieces,  without  caissons,  harness  or  horses, 
and  about  three  hundred  cavalry — they  were  of  course 
undisciplined — several  regiments  without  accoutrements, 
and  with  an  entirely  inadequate  supply  of  ammunition."* 

Colonel  Jackson  was  assigned  the  command  of  the  1st 
brigade  of  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  (asN  the  force 
under  General  Johnston  was  styled),  and  while  at  Har- 
pers Ferry,  rendered  great  assistance  to  his  commanding 
general. 

Having  collected  a  large  number  of  troops,  the  fede- 
ral government  prepared  for  the  opening  of  the  campaign 
in  northern  Virginia.  On  the  Potomac  line  they  held 
the  town  of  Alexandria,  from  which  they  threatened 
General  Beauregard's  army  at  Manassas,  and  a  strong 
column  under  Major-general  Patterson,  was  advancing 
through  Maryland  towards  Harpers  Ferry. 

Colonel  (now  major-general)  Stuart  was  ordered  by 
General  Johnston  to  observe  the  shore  of  the  Potomac 

*  Gen.  Johnston's  report. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  33 

and  report  the  movements  of  Patterson's  column,  which 
duty  he  performed  with  great  skill  and  success.  Colonel 
(now  lieutenant-general)  A.  P.  Hill,  with  three  regiments 
of  infantry,  was  sent  to  Romney  to  observe,  and  if  pos- 
sible check  the  movements  of  General  McClellan,  who 
was  reported  marching  from  Western  Virginia  towards 
the  Valley  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  his  forces  with  those 
of  General  Patterson.  It  was  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  prevent  the  junction  of  these  columns,  should  such  a 
step  be  contemplated. 

Patterson  was  reported  at  or  near  "Willi amsport,  and 
it  was  evidently  his  intention  to  cross  the  Potomac. 

As  soon  as  he  was  convinced  that  the  enemy  were 
about  to  enter  Virginia,  General  Johnston  evacuated 
Harpers  Ferry,  which  he  had  held  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  them  over  the  river,  and  moved  towards  Mar- 
tinsburg,  upon  which  point  the  enemy  were  advancing. 
He  marched  rapidly,  but  when  he  reached  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Martinsburg,  found  that  the  enemy,  having  been 
informed  of  his  approach,  had  retired  across  the  Poto- 
mac. General  Johnston  now  marched  to  Winchester. 
.  On  the  20th  of  June  he  sent  Colonel  Jackson,  with  his 
brigade,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Martinsburg  to  watch 
the  enemy  and  check  their  advance.  While  there,  Colo- 
nel Jackson,  in  obedience  to  orders,  entered  the  town  of 
Martinsburg  and  destroyed  such  of  the  rolling  stock  and 
other  property  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  as  he 
could  not  bring  away.  "  A  number  of  locomotives  and 
cars  were  successfully  carried  to  Winchester,  but  more 
than  forty  of  the  largest  and  finest  engines,  with  others, 
old  and  disabled,  and  nearly  three  hundred  box  and  plat- 
form and  iron  cars  were  destroyed."     The  road  was  torn 

5 


34  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

up  and  the  bridges  destroyed  for  some  distance  ;  thus  in- 
flicting a  serious  loss  upon  the  enemy. 

On  Thursday,  2d  July  1861,  the  federal  army  under 
General  Patterson,  crossed  the  Potomac  a  second  time, 
at  "Williamsport,  and  moved  towards  Martinsburg.  As 
soon  as  he  was  informed  of  this,  Colonel  Jackson  broke 
up  his  camp,  which  was  located  about  two  miles  north  of 
the  town,  and  advanced  to  meet  the  enemy.  Having 
proceeded  a  short  distance  he  halted  his  brigade,  and  de- 
taching a  part  of  the  5th  Virginia  regiment,  (Harper's), 
a  small  portion  of  Col.  Stuart's  cavalry,  and  one  gun 
from  Pendleton's  battery,  in  all  about  380  men,  moved 
forward  towards  the  Potomac  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's 
position  and  ascertain  his  strength.  Arriving  near  Fall- 
ing Waters,  he  found  the  federal  troops  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle.  This  force  consisted  of  Patterson's  advanced 
brigade  under  Brigadier-general  George  Cadwallader, 
and  numbered  between  three  and  five  thousand  men,  with 
a  fine  battery  of  field  artillery.  The  action  was  opened 
by  a  dash  of  two  companies  of  Stuart's  cavalry  upon  that 
portion  of  the  enemy's  forces  which  was  the  first  to  ar- 
rive upon  the  field.  As  soon  as  he  came  up  with  the  main 
body,  Colonel  Jackson,  skilfully  taking  a  position  which 
enabled  him  to  conceal  the  smallness  of  his  force,  at  once 
engaged  the  enemy.  The  battle  began  at  9  o'clock  in 
the  morning  and  was  fought  with  great  vigor  for  an  hour, 
when  the  firing  grew  more  gradual,  and  continued  so  until 
the  close  of  the  engagement.  About  12  o'clock,  Colonel 
Jackson,  finding  that  the  enemy  were  making  great  efforts 
to  outflank  him,  which  the  superiority  of  their  force 
would  onable  them  to  do,  drew  off  his  men  and  retired  to 
his  main  body;  the  enemy  making  no  attempt  at  a  pur- 


•     THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  35 

suit.  Having  rejoined  his  main  column,  he-continued  his 
retreat  through  Martinsburg  and  halted  at  a  little  place 
called  Darkcsvillc,  about  four  miles  south  of  the  town, 
where  he  was  joined  by  General  Johnston,  who  had  ad- 
vanced to  his  support  with  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah. 

In  this  affair,  Colonel  Jackson  lost  two  killed  and  ten 
wounded.  The  enemy  lost  a  large  number  killed  and 
wounded,  and  forty-five  taken  prisoners.  This  has  al- 
ways been  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
exploits  of  the  Avar.  With  a  mere  handful  of  men,  Colo- 
nel Jackson  had,  for  three  hours,  held  in  check  a  force  of 
ten  times  his  own  numbers,  had  repulsed  every  attack 
made  upon  him,  had  inflicted  a  severe  loss  upon  the  enemy 
and  had  impressed  them  so  deeply  with  a  sense  of  his 
skill  and  strength,  that  they  had  allowed  him  to  retire 
unmolested.  It  was  a  severe  blow  for  an  invading  army, 
composed  entirely  of  raw  troops,  to  meet  with  such  a  de- 
cided check  from  so  small  a  force  upon  their  first  entrance 
into  ai  hostile  country.  Surely  it  must  have  impressed 
them  most  deeply  with  the  conviction  that  the  task  of 
conquering  the  South  would  be  anything  but  child's 
play. 

General  Patterson  telegraphed  to  Washington  that  his 
army  had  "routed  and  put  to  flight  ten  thousand  of  the 
rebels."  The  defeat,  however,. was  too  plain  to  be  smoth- 
ered over  by  such  a  bare-faced  lie,  and  a  telegram  soon 
afterwards  appeared  in  a  Louisville  paper,  which  stated 
that  the  federals  had  "  evidently  nothing  encouraging  to 
communicate." 

General  Johnston  waited  four  days  for  General  Patter- 
son, who  had  occupied  Martinsburg,  to  come  out  and  give 
him  battle ;  but  that  officer  declined  doinp-  so.     The  les- 


36  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

son  taught  him  at  Falling  "Waters  was  not  without  its 
effect.  He  was  in  no  hurry  to  meet  the  men  who  had 
given  him  such  a  decided  check  as  that  which  he  had  ex- 
perienced on  the  2d  of  July.  Finding  that  General  Pat- 
terson would  not  come  out  and  fight  him,  General  John- 
ston fell  back  to  Winchester. 

A  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  Winches- 
ter, Colonel  Jackson  received  the  commission  of  briga- 
dier-general in  the  provisional  army  of  the  Confederate 
States.  This  promotion  was  intended  as  a  reward  for  his 
valuable  services  during  the  war.  but  especially  his  con- 
duct at  Falling  Waters.  The  promotion  was  richly  mer- 
ited and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  army. 

The  1st  brigade  of  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  com- 
manded by  General  Jackson,  consisted  of  the  2d,  4th,  5th, 
27th  and  Sod  Virginia  regiments,  and  Pendleton's  light 
battery.  A  finer  body  of  troops  never  marched  to  battle. 
They  were  proud  of  their  gallant  commander,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  this  feeling  of  pride  was  changed  to  one 
of  almost  idolatry.  General  Jackson  was  kind  to  and 
careful  of  his  men,  never  neglecting  anything  that  could 
contribute  to  their  comfort.  He  at  all  times  preserved 
the  most  rigid  discipline  among  them,  and  this  was  in  a 
great  measure  the  cause  of  their  wonderful  success. 

One  of  his  most  striking  characteristics  was  his  great 
attention  to  details.  He  neglected  nothing  that  could 
contribute  to  the  comfort  or  safety  of  his  men  or  the 
success  of  his  undertakings.  On  the  march  he  was  gen- 
erally near  his  wagon  trains,  superintending  in  person 
their  movements.  The  following  incident  is  related  of 
him :  Upon  one  occasion,  one  of  his  wagons  stuck  fast 
in  a  mud  hole;  the  wagoners  were  cursing  and  belaboring 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  6i 

the  mules  without  making  any  effort  to  prize  the  wagon 
out  of  the  hole.  At  this  moment  General  Jackson  hap- 
pened to  ride  up.  Seeing  the  difficulty  he  at  once  dis- 
mounted from  his  old  sorrel,  and  taking  a  rail  from  a 
neighboring  fence,  went  to  work  in  good  earnest  to  place 
the  wagon  on  dry  ground.  Instantly  the  wagoners  ceased 
cursing  and  put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel  to  help  the 
general.  In  a  short  time  the  wagon  was  safely  landed  on 
solid  ground,  and  then  General  Jackson  superintended 
the  filling  up  of  the  hole  in  order  to  allow  the  rest  of 
the  train  to  pass  by  in  safety. 

He  fully  appreciated  the  power  of  his  example,  and 
never  lost  sight  of  the  importance  of  giving  his  personal 
attention  to  the  minutest  detail. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  General  Johnston  began  his  cele- 
brated march  from  Winchester  to  Manassas.  Jackson's 
brigade  led  the  advance,  and  upon  arriving  at  Piedmont 
on  the  Manassas  gap  railroad,  was  embarked  on  the  cars, 
and,  together  with  Bee's  and  Bartow's  brigades,  sent 
forward  to  Manassas. 

General  Jackson  readied  Manassas  on  the  20th  of 
July,  and  was  ordered  to  station  himself  on  the  lines  of 
Bull  run,  in  the  rear  of  Blackburn's  and  Mitchell's  fords, 
in  order  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  support  either  Gene- 
ral Longstreet  at  the  former,  or  General  Bonham  at  the 
latter  point,  as  the  occasion  might  require.* 

"xThe  Rev.  Dr.  Moore,  of  Richmond,  in  a sermon  in  memory  of  Jack- 
son, narrates  the  following  incident: 

"Previous  to  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  when  the  troops  under 
Stonewall  Jackson  had  made  a  forced  March,  on  halting  at  ni^ht 
they  fell  on  the  ground  exhausted  and  faint.  The  hour  arrived  for 
setting  the  watch  for  the  night.     The  officer  of  the  day  went  to  the 


o 


8  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 


The  enemy  having  determined. to  endeavor  to  turn  the 
left  flank  of  the  confederate  army,  began  their  attack  at 
half-past  live  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  July, 
upon  Colonel  Evans  position  at  the  "  Stone  bridge."  A 
few  hours  later,  Colonel  Evans  being  satisfied  as  to  their 
intentions,  moved  farther  to  the  left,  and  changing  his 
•  front,  awaited  their  attack.  They  soon  appeared,  and 
the  battle  began  at  quarter  to  ten  o'clock.  Evans'  little 
band,  though  assailed  by  overwhelming  numbers,  held 
their  ground  firmly  until  the  arrival  of  General  Bee  with 
reinforcements.  The  battle  continued  to  rage.  In  about 
an  hour  General  Bee,  in  order  to  avoid  being  outflanked 
by  the  enemy,  who  were  pressing  upon  him  from  all 
points,  fell  back  towards  the  Henry  house. 

About  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  General  Jackson 
was  ordered  to  move  with  his  brigade,  together  with  Im- 
boden's  and  five  pieces  of  Walton's  batteries,  and  guard 
the  intervals  between  Bonham's  left  and  Cocke's  right, 
and  to  support  either  in  case  of  need — the  character  and 
topographical  features  of  the  country  being  shown  to  him 
by  Captain  Harris  of  the  engineers.  Shortly  afterwards 
Imboden's  guns  were  sent  forward  with  General  Bee  to 
the  assistance  of  Colonel  Evans.  Soon  after  this,  Gene- 
ral Jackson  moved  to  the  support  of  General  Bee,  who 
was   sorely  pressed  by  the  dense  masses  of  the  enemy 


general's  tent  and  said  '  Genera],  the  men  are  all  wearied,  and  there 
is  not  one  but  is  asleep.  Shall  I  wake  them  ?'  'No/  said  the  noble 
Jackson,  'let  them  sleep,  and  I  will  watch  the  camp  to-night.'  And 
all  night  long  he  rode  lound  that  lonely  camp,  the  one  lone  sentinel 
for  that  brave,  but  weary  and  silent  body  of  Virginia  heroes.  And 
when  glorious  morning  broke,  the  soldiers  awoke  fresh  and  ready  for 
.action,  all  unconscious  of  the  noble  vigils  kept  over  their  slumbers.'-' 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  S9 

which  were  surging  heavily  upon  him.  He  came  into 
action  and  formed  his  brigade  in  line  of  battle,  just  as 
the  torn  and  shattered  fragments  of  Bee's  forces,  then 
in  great  danger  of  being  routed,  reached  the  plateau  on 
■which  the  Henry  house  is  situated.  The  enemy  finding 
that  the  steady  front  which  the  gallant  "first  brigade'' 
presented  could  not  be  broken,  paused  in  their  pursuit. 
Order  was  restored  along  the  lines,  and  soon  Generals 
Beauregard  and  Johnston  arrived  upon  the  field.  While 
the  army  was  being  reorganized,  and  the  new  line  of  bat- 
tle arranged,  the  artillery  of  the  two  armies  became  hotly- 
engaged.  This  brief  rest  given  £o  the  infantry,  afforded 
the  confederates  an  opportunity  to  reform  their  lines, 
and,  beyond  a  doubt,  saved  the  victory  then  trembling  in 
the  balance.  It  was  due  to  the  promptness  of  General 
Jackson  in  moving  forward  from  the  position  to  which  he 
had  been  assigned  early  in  the  morning,  and  bringing  his 
brigade  into  position  with  such  celerity  and  skill,  thereby 
checking  the  pursuit. 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Beaure- 
gard ordered  the  whole  of  the  right  of  his  line  (except 
the  reserves)  to  advance  and  drive  the  enemy  from  the 
plateau.  This  was  done  with  spirit.  "At  the  same  time 
Jackson's  brigade  pierced  the  enemy's  centre  with  the 
determination  of  veterans  and  the  spirit  of  men  who  fight 
for  a  sacred  cause,  but  it  suffered  severely."* 

The  enemy  fell  back ;  but  soon  receiving  large  bodies 
of  fresh  troops,  pressed  forward  again  and  recovered  their 
lost  ground.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Gen- 
eral Beauregard,  having  received  a  small  reinforcement, 


*  General  Beauregard's  report. 


40  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

resolved  to  advance  his  lines  and  drive  the  enemy  from 
the  plateau,  and  accordingly  orders  were  issued  for  the 
execution  of  this  movement. 

The  army  had  suffered  terribly — particularly  the  bri- 
gade of  General  Bee.  In  that  brigade  every  field  officer 
and  nearly  all  of  the  company  officers  had  fallen,  and  the 
heroic  regiments  which  composed  it  were  on  the  point  of 
being  overwhelmed.  Just  at  this  moment  the  order  was 
given  to  charge  the  enemy's  lines. 

Riding  up  to  General  Jackson,  who  sat  on  his  horse 
calm  and  unmoved,  though  severely  wounded  in  the  hand, 
General  Bee  exclaimed  in  a  voice  of  anguish : 

"  General,  they  are  beating  us  back  !" 

General  Jackson  glanced  around  him  for  a  moment. 
His  large  eyes  flashed  and  his  features  shone  with  a  glo- 
rious light.     Turning  to  General  Bee,  he  said  calmly : 

"  Sir,  we'll  give  them  the  bayonet." 

Then  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  he 
thundered : 

"Forward!" 

The  men  sprang  forward  with  a  cheer,  and  swept  like 
a  whirlwind  upon  the  startled  foe. 

Hastening  back  to  his  men,  General  Bee  cried  enthu- 
siastically, as  he  pointed  to  Jackson  : 

"Look  yonder!  There  is  Jackson  standing  like  a 
stone  wall !  Let  us  determine  to  die  here,  and  we  will 
conquer.     Follow  me  !" 

Then  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his  shattered  col- 
umn, General  Bee  led  it  forward,  (animated  by  the  glori- 
ous example  of  General  Jackson  and  his  men),  in  that 
noble  charge,  the  success  of  which  was  purchased  with 
his  pure  life.     The  charge  of  Jackson's  men  was  terrific. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  41 

The  enemy  were  swept  before  them  like  chaff  before  a 
whirlwind.  Nothing  could  resist  its  impetuosity.  The 
men  seemed  to  have  caught  the  dauntless  spirit  and  de- 
termined will  of  their  heroic  commander,  and  nothing 
could  stay  them  in  their  onward  course.  The  27th  Vir- 
ginia regiment,  in  this  brilliant  charge,  captured  the 
greater  portion  of  Rickett's  and  Griffin's  batteries,  and 
the  flag  of  the  1st  Michigan  regiment.*  The  name  won 
that  day -by  the  brigade  and  its  general,  is  immortal. 

Just  as  the  final  assault,  which  ended  in  their  rout,  was 
being  made  upon  the  enemy's  lines,  General  Jackson  was 
informed  that  Keyes'  brigade  of  Tyler's  division  of  the 
federal  army  was  approaching  for  the  purpose  of  out- 
flanking the  confederate  forces.  He  at  once  ordered  Al- 
burtis'  battery  (supported  by  a  small  force  of  infantry)  to 
a  point  overlooking  the  road  by  which  the  enemy  were  ad- 
vancing. A  few  shots  from  this  battery  and  Latham's 
guns,  which  had  taken  position  a  little  to  the  left,  forced 
the  federals  to  retire. 

In  the  final  attack  upon  the  enemy's  lines,  the  brigade 
of  General  Jackson  greatly  distinguished  itself,  and 
drove  the  enemy  from  the  field.  The  victory  gained  by 
the  confederate  army  was  complete,  and  no  one  contribu- 
ted more  largely  to  it  than  General  Jackson. 

The  wound  in  the  hand,  he  received  in  the  early  part 
of  the  day.  It  was  severe  and  painful ;  but  he  refused 
to  leave  the  field,  and  continued  in  command  of  his  bri- 
gade until  the  close  of  the  action. f 


1    ■)!.  Beauregard's  report, 
f  Captain  Cooke  in  his   biography  of  General  Jackson,  relates  the 
following  incident,  us  baprpeuing  at  this  battle  : 

"  While  Jackson's  ■wound  was  being  dressed,  eon^e  one  said.  (  Here 

6 


42  LI  E  IT  ES  ANT-n  EXEK AL 

The  appeal  of  General  Bee  to  his  troops  became  widely 
spread  throughout  the  army  and  the  South.  The  troops, 
as  a  mark  of  their  high  esteem  and  admiration  for  Gene- 
ral Jackson,  bestowed  upon  him  the  flattering  title  of 
"  Stonewall  Jackson."  This  name,  so  eminently  char- 
acteristic of  him,  was  readily  adopted  by  all,  and  became 
so  common  that  he  was  very  rarely  spoken  of  by  any 
other.  So  universal  did  the  habit  become,  that  many 
persons  devoutly  believed  he  had  no  other  name;  and 
this  gave  rise  to  many  amusing  blunders.  It  is  said  that 
upon  one  occasion  General  Jackson  received  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  "  General  Stone  IV.  Jackson." 

The  valuable  services  of  General  Jackson  were  ac- 
knowledged by  General  Johnston  in  his  report  of  the 
battle  ;  and  it  is  there  stated  that  the  victory  was  due,  in 
a  great  degree,  to  his  skill  and  bravery.  General  Beau- 
regard speaks  of  him  as  follows :  "  The  conduct  of  Gen- 
eral Jackson  also  requires  mention  as  eminently  that  of 
an  able,  fearless  soldier  and  sagacious  commander — one 
fit  to  lead  his  efficient  brigade;  his  prompt,  timel}'  arrival 
before  the  plateau  of  the  Henry  house,  and  his  judicious 
disposition  of  his  troops,  contributed  much  to  the  success 
of  the  day.  Although  painfully  wounded  in  the  hand, 
he  remained  on  the  field  to  the  end  of  thct)attlc,  render- 
ing valuable  assistance." 

The  brilliant  services  of  General  Jackson  procured  for 
him  the  commission  of  major-general. 

In  the  fall  of  18GI  the  confederate  army  in  Virginia 


comes  the  president !'  He  threw  aside  the  surgeons,  rose  suddenly  to 
his  feet,  and  whirling  his  old  cap  around  his  head,  cried,  with  the 
fire  of  battle  in  his  eyes :  'Hurrah  for  the  president!  Give  rae  ten 
thousand  men,  and  I'll  be  in  Washington  to-night.'  " 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  43 

was  reorganized.  The  army  of  the  Potomac,  consisting 
of  the  forces  lying  along  the  Potomac,  south  of  Harpefs 
Ferry,  was  organized  into  several  corps  oVarmce — the 
troops  in  the  neighborhood  of  Centreville  and  Manassas 
being  under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Beaure- 
gard.  The  troops  at  Winchester,  those  in  the  Valley  of 
Virginia,  and  the  commands  of  Generals  Loring  and 
Henry  R.  Jackson  in  Western  Virginia,  were  organized 
into  a  separate  army,  which  was  styled  the  "  Army  of 
the  Monongahela."  The  supreme  command  of  the  armies 
of  the  Potomac  and  the  Monongahela  was  conferred  upon 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston. 

Having  received  his  commission  as  major-general,  Gen- 
eral Jackson  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Winchester  and 
take  command  of  the  army  of  the  Monongahela.  This 
he  at  once  prepared  to  do.  Before  leaving  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  he  took  an  affecting  farewell  of  the  troops 
with  whom  he  had  been  so  long  and  so  intimately  con- 
nected. On  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  October  1861, 
the  gallant  "Stonewall  brigade"  was  drawn  up  near  its 
encampment  at  Centreville.  All  of  the  regiments  except 
the  5th  (which  was  on  picket)  were  present.  Drawn  up 
in  close  columns,  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  had  on  the 
immortal  21st  July  won  such  glory  under  the  guidance  of 
their  gallant  general,  stood  with  sad  hearts  and  sorrowful 
countenances  to  bid  him  farewell;  while  thousands  of 
troops  from  other  portions  of  the  army  stood  by  in  re- 
spectful silence.  In  a  short  time  General  Jackson,  ac- 
companied by  his  staff,  left  his  quarters' and  rode  slowly 
towards  the  brigade.  He  was  received  by  them  in  silence. 
Until  this  moment,  his  appearance  had  never  failed  to 
draw  from  his  men  the  most  enthusiastic  cheers.     But 


44  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

now  not  a  sound  was  heard  :  a  deep  and  painful  silence 
reigneci  over  every  thing  :  every  heart  was  full ;  and 
this  silence  was  more  eloquent  than  cheers  could  have 
been. 

As  they  reached  the  centre  of  the  line  the  staff  halted, 
and  the  general  rode  forward  slowly  to  within  a  few  paces 
of  his  men.  Then  pausing,  he  gazed  for  a  moment  wist- 
fully up  and  down  the  line.  Beneath  the  calm,  quiet  ex- 
tenor  of  the  hero,  there  throbbed  a  warm  and  generous 
heart,  and  this  parting  filled  it  with  inexpressible  pain. 
After  a  silence  of  a  few  moments,  General  Jackson 
turned  to  his  men  and  addressed  them  in  the  following 
brief,  but  expressive  language : 

"  Officers  and  soldiers  of  the  first  brigade:  I  am  not 
here  to  make  a  speech,  but  simply  to  say  farewell.  I 
first  met  you  at  Harpers  Ferry,  in  the  commencement  of 
this  war,  and  I  cannot  take  leave  of  you  without  giving 
expression  to  my  admiration  for  your  conduct  from  that 
day  to  this,  whether  on  the  march,  the  bivouac,  the  tented 
field,  or  the  bloody  plains  of  Manassas,  where  you  gained 
the  well  deserved  reputation  of  having  decided  the  fate 
of  the  battle.  Throughout  the  broad  extent  of  country 
over  which  you  have  marched,  by  your  respect  for  the 
rights  and  property  of  citizens,  you  have  shown  that  you 
were  soldiers  not  only  to  defend,  but  able  and  willing 
both  to  defend  and  protect.  You  have  already  gained  a 
brilliant  and  deservedly  high  reputation  throughout  the 
army  and  the  whole  Confederacy,  and  I  trust,  in  the  fu- 
ture, by  your  own  deeds  on  the  field,  and  Iry  the  assist- 
ance of  the  same  kind  Providence  who  has  heretofore 
favored  our  cause,  you  will  gain  more  victories  and  add 
additional  lustre  to  the  reputation  you  now  enjoy.     You 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  45 

have  already  gained  a  proud  position  in  the  future  history 
of  this,  our  second  war  of  independence.  I  shall  look 
with  great  anxiety  to  your  future  movements,  and  I  trust 
whenever  I  shall  hear  of  the  first  brigade  on  the  field  of 
battle,  it  will  be  of  still  nobler  deeds  achieved  and  a 
higher  reputation  won." 

Here  he  paused  ftnd  glanced  proudly  around  him. 
Then  raising  himself  in  his  stirrups  and  throwing  the 
bridle  on  his  horse's  neck,  exclaimed  in  a  voice  of  such 
deep  feeling,  that  it  thrilled  through  every  heart  in  the 
brigade : 

"  In  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah  you  were  the  first 
brigade ;  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  you  were  the  first 
brigade  ;  in  the  second  corps  of  this  army  you  are  th# first 
brigade  ;  you  are  the  first  brigade  in  the  affections  of  your 
general,  and  I  hope  by  your  future  deeds  and  bearing,  you 
will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  the  first  brigade  in 
this,  our  second  war  of  independence.     Farewell  !" 

For  a  moment  there  was  a  pause,  and  then  arose  cheer 
after  cheer,  so  wild  and  thrilling,  that  the  very  heavens 
rang  with  them.  Unable  to  stand  such  affecting  evi- 
dences of  attachment,  General  Jackson  hastily  waved 
farewell  to  his  men,  and  gathering  his  reins,  rode  rapidly 
away. 

While  the  brigade  entertained  such  a  high  opinion  of 
General  Jackson,  his  opinion  of  the  heroes  who  composed 
it  was  equally  exalted.  1  cannot  illustrate  this  better 
than  by  relating  the  following  incident : 

Soon  after  the  succession  of  General  Garnett  to  tho 
command  of  the  Stonewall  brigade,  he  was  ordered  bv 
General  Jackson  to  execute  some  movement  that  required 
a  long  march  and   grpnt  rapidity-     Tho  troops  were  al- 


46  LIEUTENANT-C;  EXEHAL 

ready  much  fatigued  by  their  extraordinary  marches,  and 
knowing  this,  General  Garnett  remarked  that  he  feared 
it  would  be  impossible  to  execute  his  orders. 

"General  Garnett,"  said  General  Jackson,  interrupt- 
ing him,  "  I  once  commanded  the  first  brigade,  and  I 
never  found  anything  impossible  with  them  !" 

It  is  scarcely  worth  while  to  add,  the  movement  was 
executed. 

General  Jackson  at  once  repaired  to  Winchester  to  or- 
ganize his  army  and  arrange  the  affairs  of  his  department. 
In  addition  to  the  troops  sent  him  from  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  (among  which  was  his  old  brigade),  the  com- 
mand of  General  Loring  was  ordered  from  Western  Vir- 
ginia to  join  him. 

General  Jackson  was  not  popular  at  first  with  the 
troops  of  General  Loring.  They  were  devotedly  at- 
tached to  their  commander,  and  were  not  willing  that  he 
should  serve  under  General  Jackson  ;  and  it  was  not  until 
they  had  passed  through  the  glorious  campaign  in  the 
Valley,  that  they  were  perfectly  satisfied  with  their  new 
general.  After  that,  their  feelings  seemed  to  undergo  a 
complete  change,  and  not  even  the  troops  of  the  old 
"  Stonewall  brigade"  were  more  devoted  to  him  than 
were  "  Loring's  men." 

While  engaged  in  preparing  his  forces  for  active  ope- 
rations, General  Jackson,  on  the '  17th  December,  de- 
stroyed Dam  No.  5,  on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  canal ; 
thus  disabling  the  canal  and  depriving  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington of  the  supplies  which  were  sent  to  it  by  that 
route. 

About  the  close  of  the  year  18G1,  General  Jackson's 
army  numbered  ten  thousand  men.     The  enemy  had  col- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKS03J.  4* 

leoted  forces  at  the  towns  of  Bath  in  Morgan  county,  and 
Romney  in  Hampshire  county,  from  which  points  they 
committed  numerous  depredations  upon  the  surrounding 
country.  General  Jackson  resolved  to  drive  them  from 
these  places  and  free  the  country  from  their  presence. 

On  the  1st  of  January  1862,  he  left  Winchester  with 
his  forces  and  took  the  road  to  Romney.  Having  pro- 
ceeded- a  short  distance,  he  wheeled  to  the  right  and 
marched  towards  Morgan  county.  The  weather  was  very 
warm  and  the  roads  dusty  on  the  first  day ;  the  second 
day  was  very  cold,  and  as  the  road  was  not  in  good  order, 
the  wagons  were  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  army,  and 
the  men  were  forced  that  night  to  lie  out  upon  the  ground 
without  their  coverings  or  any  thing  to  eat.  On  the 
morning  of  the  third  day,  the  wagons  came  up,  and  the 
troops  were  allowed  a  short  time  to  cook  provisions  and 
partake  of  food.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  they  set  out 
•ring  very  much  from  the  intense  cold.  The 
night  was  passed  most  uncomfortably,  and  on  the  next 
morning  it  began  to  snow  rapidly.  The  troops  suffered 
from  this,  but  pushed  on  cheerfully.  That  af- 
ternoon they  came  within  four  miles  of  Bath.  Here 
the  advanced  brigade  encountered  a  federal  force,  and 
r  a  sharp  skirmish,  forced  it  to  retire  into  the  town. 
The  army  encamped  for  the  night  just  outside  of  Bath. 
Snow,  r  I  hail  fell  during  the  whole  night,  and  the 

to  endure  this  without  blankets  or  cov- 
erings of  any  kind;  but  they  were  so  mu  1  by 
their  long  marches  of  the  past  few  days,  that  they  sank 
down  upon  the  wet  ground  and  slept  in  spite  of  the  hard- 
ships to  which  they  were  subjected.  The  roads  had  be- 
come almost  impassable,  owing  to  the             and  ice,  and 


48  LIEriEXANT-GENERAL 

it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  horses  could  stand 
upon  their  feet.  It  was  late  on  Saturday  morning  (Jan- 
uary 5th)  before  the  wagons  came  up  and  the  men  could 
procure  food.  As  soon  as  the  army  had  breakfasted,  the 
order  was  given  to  advance  towards  Bath. 

The  artillery,  moving  in  advance,  opened  a  heavy  fire 
upon  the  Yankees,  and  the  infantry,  hurrying  forward  to 
charge  the  breastworks  which  had  been  erected  -for  the 
nee  of  the  town,  the  enemy  spiked  their  guns  and  re- 
treated towards  the  Potomac.  A  portion  of  the  militia 
which  accompanied  General  Jackson's  army,  were  ordered 
to  occupy  a  point  in  the  rear  of  the  town  and  thus  cut  off 
the  enemy's  retreat;  but  before  they  could  reach  it,  the 
federals  passed  it,  and  retreated  across  the  river  to  Han- 
cock, in  Maryland.  The}'  were  pursued  by  the  cavalry 
to  the  Potomac,  where  the  confederates  fell  into  an  am- 
bush and  had  to  fall  back.  A  piece  of  artillery  was  then 
ordered  forward,  and  the  woods  in  which  the  enemy  lay 
concealed  were  shelled  until  night. 

At  night  the  army  fell  back  a  short  distance.  Two 
regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battery  were  ordered  to  re- 
main in  the  road  all  night  to  watch  the  enemy.  They 
had  no  fires,  and  their  sufferings  were  intense.  Number;', 
overcome  by  the  cold,  sank  down  in  their  places,  and  had 
to  be  carried  to  the  rear.  The  soles  of  the  shoes  of  the 
men,  in  many  instances,  froze  to  the  ground.  Yet,  not- 
withstanding all  they  endured,  not  a  murmur  of  complaint 
was  heard. 

On  Sunday  morning  (January  6th)  the  army  arrived 
opposite  the  town  of  Hancock,  Maryland*.  Here  the 
enemy  had  collected  a  strong  force,  and  presented  a  hos- 
tile appearance.     General  Jackson  sent   Colonel  Ashby, 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  49 

i 

with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  the  authorities  of  the  town,  giving 
them  two  hours  to  remove  the  women  and  children  from 
the  place,  and  notifying  them  of  his  intention  to  cannon- 
ade it  and  drive  the  enemy  from  it.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  appointed  time,  General  Jackson  opened  his  fire 
upon  the  enemies  batteries,  to  which  they  replied  feebly. 
The  fire  continued  rapidly  for  about  an  hour,  and  then 
ceased  on  both  sides  for  the  day.  Not  wishing  to  destroy 
the  town,  General  Jackson  directed  his  fire  only  at  those 
portions  occupied  by  the  enemy. 

On  the  next  morning  the  enemy,  who  had  been  rein- 
forced during  the  night,  opened  a  furious  fire  upon  the 
confederates,  who  did  not  reply  to  them,  but  busied  them- 
selves with  removing  the  stores  which  the  enemy  had 
abandoned. 

While  this  was  going  on  opposite  Hancock,  Colonel 
Rust,  with  two  regiments  and  a  battery,  was  ordered  to 
proceed  up  the  road  and  destroy  the  bridge  over  the 
Oacapon  river.  In  his  march  to  that  point  he  was  am- 
buscaded, but  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  out  of  their 
place  of  concealment,  and  then  burnt  the  bridge  and  de- 
stroyed a  considerable  portion  of  the  road.. 

On  Thursday  morning  (January  8th,)  the  army  fell 
back  from  before  Hancock.  Having  cleared  this  portion 
of  the  country,  General  Jackson  resolved  to  drive  the 
enemy  out  of  Romney,  and  immediately  began  his  march 
to  that  place.  The  enemy  had  at  Romney  a  force  of 
about  twelve  thousand  men  under  Brigadier-general  Kel- 
ly. Hearing  that  General  Jackson  was  approaching, 
General  Kelley  evacuated  the  town  on  the  11th  of  Janu- 
ary, and  retreated.  General  Jackson  pressed  on  and 
took  pi  on  of  (b-  p 

7 


50  LI  KT*T  EN  ANT-GENERAL 

It  was  the  original  intention  of  General  Kelly,  wfeen 
he  was  informed  of  General  Jackson's  approach,  to  defend 
Roumev,  and  he  issued  orders  to  that  effect.  But  his 
troops  became  seized  with  a  violent  panic  as  soon  as  they 
heard  of  the  advance  of  the  terrible  "  Stonewall ;" 
General  Kelly,  finding  it  impossible  to  make  them  fight, 
was  forced  to  retreat. 

The  federals  abandoned  a  large  amount  of  stores  of 
various  kinds,  and  left  behind  them  all  the  official  papers 
of  their  adjutant-general.  From  these  papers  much  valu- 
able information  was  gained. 

Having  driven  the  enemy  before  him  at  all  points, 
General  Jackson,  leaving  General  Loring  at  Romney, 
returned  to  Winchester,,  (taking  with  him  the  Stonewall 
brigade),  to  guard  his  communications  and  watch  the 
growing  force  of  the  enemy  at  Harpers  Ferry.  General 
Loring  held  Romney  until  the  Gth  of  February,  when  he 
evacuated  it  under  orders  from  General  Jackson,  and  re- 
turned to  AVinchester. 

The  terrible  sufferings  endured  by  the  troops  in  this 
expedition,  caused  many  persons  to  regard  the  course 
pursued  by  General  Jackson  as  unnecessary,  and  he  was, 
for  a  time,  the  object  of  much  censure.  But  the  results 
of  the  expedition,  and  the  facts  which  time  has  revealed, 
prove  incontestibly  that  it  was  rendered  necessary  Iry;  the 
circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed.  The  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  was  the  great  connecting  link  between 
the  East  and  the  West ;  and  the  United  States  authori- 
ties were  using  it  to  transport  troops  to  the  necessary 
points.  The  destruction  of  a  portion  of  this  road,  inclu- 
ding an  important  bridge,  caused  the  enemy  to  adopt  a 
more  circuitous  route  through  Pennsylvania,  thereby  put- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  51 

ting  them  to  serious  inconvenience.  Two  large  and  im- 
portant counties  were  delivered  for  a  time  from  the  thral- 
dom of  the  enemy  and  the  demoralizing  influence  of  their 
armies;  rescued  from  their  plundering  and  destructive 
acts  of  barbarity  and  villainy,  and  confidence  restored  in 
the  power  and  willingness  of  the  government  to  give  pro- 
tection to  its  citizens.  A  severe  loss  was  inflicted  upon 
the  enemy,  a  large  amount  of  stores  of  various  kinds 
captured,  and  the  federal  troops  greatly  demoralized,  for 
the  time,  by  the  sudden  and  successful  march  of  the  con- 
federate array. 

It  is  true  the  troops  of  General  Jackson  suffered  terri- 
bly— that  the  hospital  reports  showed  the  fearful  conse- 
quences of  the  exposure  and  hardships  which  had  been 
undergone ;  but  this  could  not  be  avoided :  and  a  calm 
consideration  of  the  matter  will  not  fail  to  convince  any 
one  that  the  expedition  was  a  necessity,  and  bravely  and 
skilfully  carried  out,  reflecting  the  highest  credit*  upon 
the  gallant  commander. 

Nothing  can  better  illustrate  the  perfect  confidence  re- 
posed in  General  Jackson  by  his  troops,  than  the  patient 
and  cheerful  manner  with  which  they  bore  the  most  try  in  o- 
hardships  to  which  they  were  exposed.  Some  of  them 
were  without  shoes ;  many  of  them  but  poorly  clad ;  and 
nearly  all  without  overcoats,  blankets  or  tents:  and  yet 
they  never  murmured.  They  bore  everything  with  the 
greatest  cheerfulness.  It  was  enough  for  them  to  know 
that  "Old  Jack"  thought  the  movement  necessary.  It 
must  not  be  supposed  that  General  Jackson  fared  much 
better  thanjiis  men.  He  experienced  all  of  the  hard- 
ships to  which  they  were  subjected.  Fatigue,  cold,  ex- 
posure and  hunger  he  shared  with  them.     Wrapping  him- 


52  LTEUTENANT-CiENERAL 

self  up  in  his  blanket,  he  would  throw  himself  down  upon 
the  ground  and  sleep  as  soundly  as  if  lying  on  a  Led  of 
down.  All  that  he  could  do  to  alleviate  the  Bufferings  of 
the  men,  he  did  most  gladly.  Such  heroism  as  was  ex- 
hibited by  both  officers  a^id  men  in  this  fearful  march, 
has  never  been  surpassed  in  any  age  of  the  world. 

Having  returned  to  Winchester,  General  Jackson  al- 
lowed his  army  a  brief  period  for  rest.  Sickness  and 
the  process  of  reorganization  diminished  its  strength  con-, 
siderably. 

It  was  General  Jackson's  original  intention  to  hold  both 
ttomney  and  Winchester,  which  positions  would,  he 
thought,  enable  him  to  defend  the  Valley  of  Virginia. 
By  establishing  a  telegraph  between  Romney  and  Win- 
chester, he  would  have  the  means  of  communicating 
promptly  with  General  Loring  at  the  former  place.  He 
was  unwilling  to  allow  the  enemy  to  open  the  campaign, 
and  wes  anxious  to  assume  offensive  operations  as  soon 
as  possible.  He  saw  clearly  the  evils  ihat  would  result 
from  allowing  the  federal  troops,  then  organizing  for  the 
invasion  of  the  Valley,  time  to  complete  their  arrange- 
ments, and  he  was  anxious  to  strike  at  once.  In  a  letter 
written  on  March  3d,  he  states  his  plan  as  follows  : 

"  My  plan  is  to  put  on  as  bold  a  front  as  possible,  and 
to  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  prevent  his  advance, 
whilst  our  reorganization  is  going  on.  What  I  desire,  in 
to  hold  the  country,  as  far  as  practicable,  until  we  are  in 
a  condition  to  advance  ;  and  then,  with  God's  blessing, 
let  us  make  thorough  work  of  it.  *  *  *  Banks, 
who  commands  about  35,000  men,  has  his  headquarters 
at  Charlestown ;  Kelly,  who  has  succeeded  Lander,  has 
probably  11,000  with  his  headquarters  near  Paw  Paw. 


THOMAS    J.  JA('k\<0.\.  53 

Thus  you  see  two  generals,  whose  united  force  is  near 
46,000,  of  troops  already  organized  for  three  years  or 
the  war,  opposed  to  our  little  force  here.  But  I  do  not 
feel  discouraged.  Let  me  have  what  force  you  can. 
*  *  *  I  am  delighted  to  hear  you  say  that  Vir- 
ginia is  resolved  to  concentrate  all  her  resources,  if  ne- 
cessary, to  the  defence  of  herself.  Now  we  may  look  for 
war  in  earnest.     *         *        *        *.  *     I  have 

only  to  say  this — that  if  this  Valley  is  lost,  Virginia  is 
lost," 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  he  regarded  a  speedy  opening  of 
an  aggressive  campaign  by  his  forces,  as  the  only  hope  of 
success  in  the  Valley.  He  saw  clearly  that  if  the  fede- 
rals were  allowed  time  to  concentrate  their  forces  and 
perfect  their  plans,  his  little  army  would  be  forced  to 
abandon  a  large  portion  of  the  Valley  and  retire  towards 
the  mountains.  The  wisdom  of  his  views  must  be  evident 
to  all  reflecting  minds.  Unfortunately  the  war  depart- 
ment did  not  agree  with  General  Jackson,  and  its  sanc- 
tion was  refused  to  his  plans  and  the  desired  reinforce- 
ments withheld.  General  Jackson  was  ordered  to  with- 
draw General  Loring  from  Romney,  to  go  into  camp  at 
Winchester  and  watch  the  enemy. 

Although  exceedingly  mortified  by  the  rejection  of  his 
plans  by  the  government,  General  Jackson,  with  the 
promptness  of  a  true  soldier,  executed  the  orders  of  the 
war  department  and  patiently  awaited  the  movements  of 
the  enemy. 

The  contrast  between  the  views  of  the  government  and 
the  phins  of  General  Jackson  is  striking.  He  was  al- 
ways in  favor  of  prompt,  vigorous,  aggressive  movements; 
while  the  officials  were  content  to  await  the  development 


54  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

of  the  enemy's  plans,  thus  allowing  him  all  the  time  he 
desired  for  the  perfection  of  his  designs.  It  was  General 
Jackson's  rule  to  strike  promptly  and  boldly  wherever 
the  enemy  showed  a  vulnerable  point.  He  did  not  wait 
for  opportunities :  he  made  them.  His  great  idea  in  all 
of  his  operations  was  to  "press  right  on,",  and  drive  the 
enemy  before  him.  He  was  in  favor  of  an  advance  upon 
Washington  at  the  first  battle  of  Manassas :  he  wanted 
to  attack  McClellan  at  Harrison's  landing;  and  at  Fre- 
dericksburg urged  that  Burnsicle  should  be  driven  out  of 
the  town  and  into  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  last  order 
he  ever  gave  was  to  "  tell  A.  P.  Hill  to  press  right  on." 

If  he  failed  in  striking  one  blow,  he  saw  but  one  course 
to  pursue — to  strike  another,  and  to  keep  on  striking 
until  success  crowned  his  efforts.  He  was  always  averse 
to  any  plan  that  gave  the  enemy  a  breathing  spell. 

He  was  not  a  rash  man.  His  plans  were  the  results  of 
mature  and  deliberate  calculation.  Every  argument  for 
or  against  a  measure  was  carefully  weighed,  and  nothing 
was  undertaken  hastily.  No  general  ever  paid  greater 
attention  to  his  communications,  or  took  more  pains  to 
leave  open  a  way  of  escape  for  his  army  in  case  of  fail- 
ure. All  of  his  measures  were  bold  and  characteristic  of 
his  strong  and  unconquerable  will.  He  seemed  to  per- 
ceive intuitively  the  chief  danger  against  which  he  had  to 
contend,,  and  instead  of  scattering  his  efforts  upon  a  score 
of  minor  points,  he  bent  all  of  them  against  the  grand 
central  object,  and  never  paused  until  he  overcame  it. 
His  strength  of  will  was  prodigious,  and  the  stubborn 
tenacity  with  which  he  held  his  ground  on  all  occasions, 
one  of  his  most  remarkable  traits. 

The  time  had  not  arrived  when  the  government  was  to 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  55 

appreciate  the  true  character  of  the  man  to  whose  en  re 
had  been  entrusted  the  fortunes  of  the  Valley.  He  was 
thought  by  those  in  authority  at  Richmond  a  hairbrained, 
rash  dreamer,  who  aimed  at  impossibilities  and  who  should 
be  watched  and  checked  as  much  as  possible.  The  au- 
thorities seemed  to  be  continually  afraid  that  Jackson 
would  do  something,  or  get  into  some  trouble,  and  were 
not  willing  to  sanction  his  plan  for  the  defence  of  the 
Valley.  Orders  were  sent  him  to  remain  quiet  at  Win- 
chester, and  the  bold  heart  and  fertile  brain  of  the  jrreat 
soldier  were  forced  for  the  time  to  throw  aside  all  plans 
and  wishes,  and  content  themselves  with  awaiting  the 
opening  of  the  campaign  by  the  enemy. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  the  federal  army,  some 
35,000  strong,  under  Major-general  Banks,  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  on  the  same  evening  the 
enenry's  cavalry  occupied  Charlestown  in  Jefferson  county. 
This  column  was  destined  for  the  invasion  of  the  Valley 
and  the  annihilation  of  the  little  army  under  General 
Jackson.  General  Jackson's  force  had  been  greatly  re- 
duced, and  now  numbered  scarcely  four  thousand'  men. 
The  army  of  the  Potomac  was  falling  back  from  Centre- 
ville  to  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidaa,  and  General 
Jackson  had  no  assurance  of  receiving  assistance  from 
any  point.  The  column  under  General  Banks  was  already 
nearly  four  times  as  large  as  his  own,  while  the  forces  of 
General  Kelly  were  within  three  days  march  of  Banks, 
and  the  federal  army  in  "Western  Virginia  could,  when- 
ever it  was  found  necessary,  move  into  the  Valley  to  the 
support  of  the  army  there.  The  position  of  Genera) 
Jackson  was  very  trying,  and  for  awhile  it  seemed  that 
his  gallant  little  army  Would  be  overwhelmed  by  the  im- 


o6  ULUiE.NAM'-t;  e:\eral 

mense  force  that  was  moving  against  it.  All  over  the 
country  the  hope  was  expressed  that  the  government 
would  order  General  Jackson  east  of  the  mountains,  and 
thus  prevent  his  being  sacrificed  in  (what  was  then  thought) 
the  vain  attempt  to  defend  the  Valley.  But  General 
Jackson  himself  was  not  so  despondent.  Believing  that 
the  just  God  in  whom  he  trusted  did  not  always  give 
"the  battle  to  the  strong  alone  ;  but  to  the  vigilant,  the 
active,  the  brave/'  he  calmly  awaited  the  enemy's  ad- 
vance. 

"  Though  the  troops  under  my  command  are  inade- 
quate to  the  defence  of  this  district,"  he  wrote  in  one  of 
his  letters,  "  yet  we  must  look  on  the  bright  side,  trusting 
that  a  kind  Providence  will  continue  to  give  its  protec- 
tion to  this  fair  portion  of  our  Valley." 

Pausing  a  few  days  at  Charlestown,  General  Banks 
marched  to  Martinsburg,  which  place  he  occupied  on  the 
3d  of  March. 

Having  completed  his  arrangements,  he  advanced  upon 
Winchester  by  the  road  leading  from  Martinsburg  and 
also  that  from  Charlestown.  On  the  11th  of  March 
these  two  columns  were  united  at  a  point  six  miles  from 
Winchester.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  the  enemy  attacked  the  picket  of  Ashby's  cav- 
alry, four  miles  from  the  town.  A  small  reinforcement  was 
hurried  to  the  assistance  of  the  cavalry,  but  was  forced  to 
retire  before  the  enemy.  The  whole  confederate  force 
was  now  thrown  forward  and  held  in  readiness  to  engage 
the  federals  if  they  should  continue  to  advance.  This, 
however,  General  Banks  declined  doing,  and  nothing  fur- 
ther occurred  during  the  day.  Late  in  the  day,  General 
Jackson  received  an  order  from  the  gorerninent  requiring 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  57 

him  to  evacuate  "Winchester  and  retire  up  the  Valley. 
With  groat  regret,  he  drew  off  his  troops  and  retired  into 
the  town.  He  at  once  commenced  to  remove  the  stores, 
age  and  other  public  property.  This  was  success- 
fully accomplished,  and  not  one  dollar's  worth  of  the  pub- 
lic property  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.'1'  At  last 
all  wag  .   and   General  Jackson,    leaving    Colonel 

Ashby  to  cover  his  retreat  with  the  cavalry,  slowly  re- 
tired from  the  town,  lie  bivouaced  that  night  about  four 
miles  from  Winchester. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning,  eight  thousand  fede- 
ral troops  marched  into  Winchester  and  took  possession  of 
the  town.  Colonel  Ashby  remained,  sitting  on  his  horse, 
in  the  Main  street,  until  the  head  of  the  enemy's  column 
came  within  a  short  distance  of  him,  and  then  rode  out 
of  the  town  and  rejoined  his  command.  In  the  after- 
noon a  federal  column  under  General  Shields  advanced 

met  and  driven  back  to 
and.     During  the 
s  day,  i  retreat  until  he 

reached   Cedar  creek,   on  the  Vail  rnpike,  sixteen 

mil(  burg. 

after  e  up  the  \  il  he 

reached  Mount  in  Shcnan'". 

county. 

A  detachment  of  the  enemy  followed  General  Jackson 
in  his  retreat  up  the  Valley  as  far  as  Strasburg,   I 
main   column,   however,   resting   in  the  neighborhood  of 

*  It  is  a  striking  fact  that  General  Jackson  never  .abandoned  to  the 
enemy  one  thousand  d  >!!:i!,::  worth  of  public  property  wlnlc  he  was 
in  the  army,  and    '  :ed  to  destroy  very  little  ;  his  measures 

ibr  its  men  IV     successful. 


58  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

Winchester),  the  pursuing  force  being  constantly  held  at 
a  respectful  distance  by  Ashby's  cavalry  and  Chew's  bat- 
tery, which  constituted  the  confederate  rear  guard. 

By  the  time  he  reached  Mount  Jackson,  General  Jack- 
son's forces  were  reduced  to  scarcely  more  than  three 
thousand  men.  The  little  army  now  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing greatly  reduced  commands  :  Ashby's  cavalry  and 
Chew's  battery,  (which  had  covered  the  retreat  and  were 
now  lying  between  the  enemy  and  Mount  Jackson) ;  Col. 
Fulkerson's  brigade,  (composed  of  the  23d  and  o7th  Vir- 
ginia regiments  and  Shumaker's  battery) ;  Brigadier-gene- 
ral Garnctt's  brigade,  (the  old  "  Stonewall  brigade,"  com- 
posed of  the  2nd,  4th,  5th,  27th  and  33rd  Virginia  regi- 
ments, and  McLaughlin's,  Carpenter's  and  Waters'  bat- 
teries) ;  and  Col.  Burks'  brigade,  (composed  of  the  21st, 
42nd  and  48th  Virginia  regiments  ;  the  1st  battalion  of 
Virginia  regulars  and  Marye's  battery.) 

ith  this  small  force,  which  was  undergoing  the  pro- 
cess of  reorganization,  General  Jackson  was  expected  to 
defend  the  Valley  of  Virginia  against  the  overwhelming 
hordes  of  the  North.  He  did  not  shrink  from  the  re- 
sponsibility, but  put  forth  all  his  energies  to  perform  the 
part  assigned  him. 

On  the  21st  of  March  he  received  a  dispatch  from  Col- 
onel Ashby,  informing  him  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated 
Strasburg,  and  were  retreating  towards  Winchester.  At 
the  same  time  he  learned  that  General  Sedgwick,  with  a 
force  of  15,000  federal  troops,  had  left  the  Valley  and 
was  marching  eastward  for  the  purpose  of  assailing  Gen- 
eral Johnston,  who  was  falling  back  from  Centrevillc  to- 
wards the  Rappahannock.  The  main  column  of  yankees 
left  in  the  Valley,  he  was  informed,  was  quite  small,  and 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX.  59 

was  advancing  leisurely  up  the  Valley,  commanded  by 
General  Shields. 

As  soon  as  General  Jackson  received  this  information, 
his  resolution  was  taken.  He  determined  to  wheel  about, 
fall  suddenly  upon  Shields'  column  and  defeat  it.  He 
would  thus  accomplish  two  results,  both  of  which  would 
be  exceedingly  beneficial  to  the  South.  He  would  inflict 
a  severe  blow  upon  Shields,  and  force  Sedgwick  to  return 
to  the  assistance  of  his  friends  in  the  Valley,  thus  re- 
lieving General  Johnston  of  the  danger  that  threatened 
him. 

General  Jackson's  troops  had  just  reached  Mount  Jack- 
son, and  were  greatly  fatigued  by  their  long  marches. 
But  there  was  no  rest  in  store  for  them  then.  As  soon 
as  he  received  information  of  the  enemy's  movements, 
General  Jackson  wheeled  his  forces  about  and  marched 
rapidly  down  the  Valley.  He  left  his  camp  on  Saturday 
the  22d  of  March,  and  bivouaced  that  night  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Strasburg,  having  marched  a  distance  of 
twenty-six  miles  that  day.  He  moved  so  rapidly  that 
only  2,700  of  his  men  were  able  to  keep  up  with  him. 

On  the  same  evening,  Colonel  Ashby's  cavalry  had  a 
spirited  engagement  with  the  enemy,  in  which  the  federal^ 
commander,  General  Shields,  was  severely  wounded. 

The  next  day,  (Sunday  23d  of  March),  General  Jackson 
moved  forward,  and  about  ten  o'clock  arrived  in  front  of 
Kcrnstown,  a  place  about  two  miles  south  of  Winchester. 

Early  on  the  same  morning,  General  Banks,  who  was 
still  in  Winchester,  was  informed  by  General  Shields  that 
the  only  confederate  force  in  his  front  was  a  small  body 
of  Ashby's  cavalry,  and  that  he  (General  Shields)  ap- 
prehended no  danger  of  an  attack.     General  Banks  left 


60  LIEUTEXAXT-GEXERAL 

Winchester  for  "Washington  city,  and  gave  himself  no  un- 
easiness with  regard  to  Jackson,  "whom  he  imagined  far 
away  up  the  Valley. 

The  federals  occupied  a  strong  position  at  Kernstown, 
and  one  which  enabled  them  to  see  the  arrival  of  General 
Jackson's  forces. 

While  on  his  march  from  Strasburg,  General  Jackson 
was  informed  by  a  party  who  ho  1  ■  '  tys  given  reliable 
information,  that  .-ral  force  h  d  to 

about  4,000  or  5,000  men,  and  this  information,  + 

hi  the  fact  that  the  enemy  cor.' 
from  their  position,  caused  him  to  resolve  to  a 
at  once.     His  troops  wer  bat  were  in 

excellent  spirits  and  eager  for  battle. 

He  left  Colonel  Ashby,  together  with  Colonel  Burks' 
brigade,  to  hold  the  Valley  turnpike,  and  taking  with  him 
one  piece  of  Carpenter's  battery  and  Fulkcrson's  brigade, 
with  Garnett's  brigade  following  as  a  support,  moved  to 
the  left  in  order  to  gain  a  position  which  would  enable 
him  to  attack  the  federal  right.  He  wished  to  turn  that 
flank  of  the  enemy  and  drive  him  from  his  commanding 
'Lion  which  it  was  not  advisable  to  attack  in  front. 
-The  pest  of  Carpenter's  guns  and  the  batteries  of  Mc- 
Laughlin and  Waters  v>  ere  hurri  I  :  and  as  soon 
as  the  desired  point  (a  hill  which  command  !  federal 
position),  ~\ 

his  movement  had   '  1  by 

the  woods,  an  3 
pose  of  Gener;  '       i  .son  unt 
fire  upon  the  rich 


Gen.  Shields'  report. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  61 

The  artillery  having  opened  the  battle,  continued  to 
advance,  maintaining  all  the  while  a  steady  lire.  The 
27th  regiment,  supported  by  the  21st,  was  thrown  forward 
to  meet  the  infantry  of  the  enemy  who  were  moving  to- 
wards the  confederate  left.  These  two  regiments  gal- 
lantly drove  the  federals  back  twice  in  a  short  space  of 
time. 

The  brigade  of  Colonel  Fulkerson  was  advancing  on 
the  left  of  the  27th  regiment,  when  the  enemy  in  large 
force  were  seen  moving  rapidly  towards  a  stone  wall  just 
in  his  front.  The  possession  of  it  would  be  a  great  ad- 
vantage to  cither  p .;rty,  and  Colonel  Fulkerson  advanced 
his  command  at  a  run.  The  enemy  seeing  this  quickened 
his  pace,  and  an  exciting  race  for  the  possession  of  the 
ensued.  The  confederates  were  the  first  to  reach  it, 
and  failing  on  the"  '   ihelterii  We&  be- 

hind it,  poured  such  withering  volleys  into  the  federal 
ranks,  that  they  recoiled  in  disorder,  leaving  one  of  their 
regimental  flags  upon  the  field.  They  rallied,  1/owcvcr, 
but  only  to  be  driven  from  their  new  position  by  Colonel 
Fulkerson's  brigade. 

Shortly  after  the  action  opened,  General  Garnett  ar- 
rived on  the  field  with  the  remainder  of  the  u  Stonewall 
brigade,"  (the  2nd,  4th  and  38rd  Virginia  regiments), 
and   the  1st  Virginia  battalion,  and  moving  rapidly  to 

•  front,  joined  in  the  engagement  which  now  bee 
iral. 
e  confederates,  thou 
fore  ually  rec  •"  its  of 

j),   held  their 

1 


62  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

man  to  man  by  those  who  had  yet  a  supply  of  them,  and 
the  deficiency  was  thus  remedied. 

The  battle  continued  to  rage  with  great  fury.  The 
troops  were  fighting  against  greatly  superior  forces  of 
the  enemy,  but  they. would  not  give  way.  The  reserves, 
(which  it  will  be  remembered  had  been  left  in  the  Valley 
turnpike),  were  yet  to  come  up,  and  there  was  a  strong 
probability  that  a  victory  might  be  won.  Unfortunately 
General  Garnett  ordered  his  men  to  fall  back,  and  this 
unlucky  movement  was  quickly  taken  advantage  of  by 
the  enemy,  who  threw  forward  their  lines,  turned  Fulker- 
son's  right,  and  forced  him  to  fall  back. 

As  soon  as  General  Jackson  saw  his  lines  waver,  he 
placed  his  hand  firmly  upon  the  shoulder  of  a  little  drum- 
mer boy  who  happened  to  be  by  him,  and  said  in  a  quick, 
sharp  tone  : 

"  Beat  the  rally  !" 

The  enemy  poured  a  withering  fire  towards  the  spot, 
but  General  Jackson  stood  unmoved,  holding  the  boy  by 
his  shoulder  until  the  signal  was  sounded  and  the  lines 
were  reformed. 

For  a  moment  defeat  seemed  inevitable  ;  but  General 
Jackson  posted  the  5th  Virginia  at  a  point  from  which  it 
could  check  the  enemy's  advance.  This  it  did  until  Col- 
onel Burks  arrived  on  the  field  with  the  42nd  Virginia. 
The  advantage  gained  by  the  enemy  enabled  them  to 
press  on,  but  before  they  could  profit  further  by  it,  the 
approach  of  night  forced  them  to  pause.  Thus  the  battle 
ended. 

General  Jackson  now  drew  off  his  force,  and  retiring 
to  a  point  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  field,  passed  the 
night  there. 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  63 

Colonel  Ashby  had  not  been  idle  during  the  fight.  By 
his  skilful  manoeuvering  of  his  command,  he  protected 
the  confederate  rear  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  guard 
his  front  and  left. 

The  confederate  force  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Kerns- 
town  consisted  of  2,742  infantry,  18  pieces  of  artillery 
and  290  cavalry.  Of  these  80  were  killed,  about  200 
wounded,  and  300,  (including  a  large  number  of  those 
who  were  wounded),  taken  prisoners.  A  number  of  the 
wounded  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  dead 
were  left  on  the  field,  and  two  guns  and  four  caissons  were 
abandoned  on  account  of  the  lack  of  means  to  remove 
them. 

The  citizens  of  "Winchester  buried  the  dead,  and 
nursed  the  wounded  tenderly.  The  prisoners  were  car- 
ried to  Baltimore,  where  they  were  kindly  cared  for  by 
the  Southern  citizens. 

The  enemy's  forces  in  the  battle  numbered  at  least 
8,000  men,  with  3,000  additional  troops  in  reserve.  Their 
artillery  was  equal,  if  not  superior  to  that  of  the  confede- 
rates. Their  loss  has  never  been  correctly  ascertained, 
but  could  not  have  been  less  than  1,000  men. 

General  Shields  was  in  command  of  the  enemy  during 
the  first  part  of  the  engagement,  but  was  afterwards  re- 
lieved by  General  Banks,  who  had  been  called  back. 

The  column  of  General  Sedgwick,  which  had  passed 
the  Blue  Ridge  at  Snicker's  gap,  was  recalled  by  the 
yankce  commander. 

Though  the  battle  of  Kernstown  did  not  end  in  a  con- 
federate  victory,  it  was  far  from  being  one  for  the  enemy. 
It  is  true,  the  enemy  were  left  in  possession  of  the  field ; 
but  the  principal  objects  of  General  Jackson  had  been 


.XT -GENERAL 

ieved.  He  bad  inflicted  a  severe  blow  upon  General 
Banks'  army,  had  crippled  it  for  awhile,  (and  time  was 
all  important  to  the  South),  and  had  caused  the  recall  of 
General  Sedgwick's  column,  thus  preventing  the  success 
of  the  mo \  upon  General  Johnston's  army.     All 

this  he  had  accomplished  with  an  army  of  less  than  three 
thousand  men.  Surely,  when  these  facts  are  taken  into 
consideration,  the  enemy's  claim  to  a  brilliant  victory 
must  fall  to  the  ground  as  an  empty  boast. 

General  Shields  in  his  report,  which  is  a  most  shameful 
perversion  of  the  truth,  claims  to  have  won  a  great  vic- 
tory, but  makes  the  following  acknowledgment : 

u  The  enemy's  sufferings  have  been  terrible,  and  such 
e  nowhere  else  endured  since  the  beginning  of 
i   such  .     .       heir  gallm 

ittleor  i 
;  to  pan    . 
.     24th,  Gen;.. 

aade  no  att. 
..     t,   but   contented    themselves   wi 
ly  out  of  i.  erhood,  then  f  k  to  V 

chester,  and  bloch  I        .    c  nthatpl 

burg,  to  prevent  General  Jackson  from  advancing  upon 
tlicm  again. 

From  Strasburg  the  army  fell  back  to  Mount  Jackson, 

the  retreat  being  covered  by  Colonel  Ashby's  command. 

At  last  General  Banks,  having  become  satisfied  that 

General  Jackson   had  no  idea  of  advancing  upon   him 

thi  ard  a  column  in  pursuit. 

out  this  time  General  J;'..  irst  exhibited, 

:y  of  move- 
■  -  .  terward  50  celebrated.    Kis 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  65 

army  had  just  reached  Mount  Jackson  after  a  weary 
march  of  forty-six  miles,  when  he  was  informed  that  the 
enemy  was  advancing  up  the  Valley.  This  was  on  the 
2'2d  of  March.  Determining  to  check  their  movements, 
he  wheeled  about,  and  by  a  forced  march  of  more  than 
forty  miles,  readied  Kernstown  the  next  day,  struck  a 
powerful  blow  at  banks'  army,  and  within  the  next  thirty- 
six  hours  was  again  at  Mount  Jackson.* 

General  Jackson  remained  at  Mount  Jackson  for  nearly 
twenty  days,  and  then  abandoning  that  position,  moved 
leisurely  up  the  Valley  towards  Harrisonburg.  Passing 
through  that  place  he  moved  to  the  left,  towards  the  Blue 
Ridge.  On  the  19th  of  April  he  crossed  the  south  fork 
of  the  Shenandoah,  and  took  position  in  Elk  run  valley, 
between  the  Shenandoah  river  and  Swift  run  gap — a  pass 
in  the  Blue  Ritlffe. 

His  position  afforded  him  many  advantages.  It  enabled 
him  to  inarch  upon  the  enemy  and  dispute  their  advance 
towards  Staunton  and  the  Central  railroad — to  prevent 
their  passing  the  Blue  Ilidge  unmolested — or  to  move  his 
force  east  of  the  mountains,  should  such  a  step  be  neces- 
sary/ 

It  having  become  evident  to  the  government  that  Gen- 
eral Jackson  must  be  reinforced  in  order  to  enable  him 
to  make   a   successful   defence   of  the  Valley,   General 

*  The  surprising  rapidity  -with  -which  he  moved,  soon  became  an 
universal  theme  of  conversation,  and  gave  rise  to  many  amusing  in- 
cideuts.  Upon  one  occasion  a  wag  remarked  that  ''Stonewall  Jack- 
sou  was  a  better  leader  than  Moses;"  and  upon  being  asked  his  reason 
for  this  assertion,  replied:  "  It  took  Moses  forty  years  to  lead  the  Is- 
raelites through  the  wilderness,  while  Jackson  "Would  have  '  double- 
quicked  '  tbcm  through  it  in  three  day 

9 


66  LIEUTENAXT-UENERAL 

Swell's  division  was  ordered  from  Gordonsville  to  join 
hiin.  On  the  30th  of  April,  General  Ewell  arrived  west 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  within  supporting  distance  of 
General  Jackson.  This  reinforcement  was  opportune, 
but  the  confederate  army  was  still  numerically  inferior  to 
that  of  the  enemy.  In  spite  of  this  inferiority.  General 
Jackson  was  now  enabled  to  put  into  execution  his  long 
cherished  idea  of  an  aggressive  campaign. 

General  Banks  advanced  cautiously  as  far  as  Harri- 
sonburg, and  occupied  the  town.  He  threw  forward  a 
small  portion  of  his  forces  towards  Swift  run  gap,  and 
constant  skirmishing  occurred  between  this  body  and  the 
confederate  outposts. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  narration  of  the  events  that 
followed  the  arrival  of  General  Ewell,  it  may  not  be  out 
of  place  to  glance  at  a  few  facts,  a  knowledge  of  which 
will  greatly  facilitate  the  reader  in  his  attempts  to  form 
a  proper  estimate  of  the  Valley  campaign,  upon  which 
we  are  about  to  enter. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  army  of  General  John- 
ston, greatly  reduced  in  strength,  had  evacuated  the  po- 
sition at  Manassas  and  had  fallen  back  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock. The  federal  army  of  the  Potomac  had  advanced 
upon  Manassas,  and  finding  the  works  deserted  and  their 
plans  frustrated,  had  returned  to  the  Potomac  and  em- 
barked in  their  transports  for  Fortress  Monroe. 

The  disappearance  up  the  Valley  of  Jackson's  forces 
had  induced  the  federal  authorities  to  believe  that  he  had 
gone  to  unite  his  command  with  the  main  army  under 
General  Johnston,  and  they  felt  no  fear  of  any  danger  in 
the  direction  of  the  Shenandoah.  A  portion  of  Banks' 
forces  were  to  be  sent  in  pursuit  of  Johnston,  a  nominal 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  G7 

force  to  be  left  in  the  Valley,  and  the  main  body  was  to 
move  to  Manassas  and  serve  as  a  covering  force  for  Wash- 
ington  city.  This  plan  would  enable  the  troops  intended 
to  cooperate  with  General  McClellan  to  act  with  greater 
freedom. 

The  movement  had  already  begun  when  the  sudden 
blow  struck,  at  Kernstown  startled  the  federal  authorities 
with  the  knowledge  that  Jackson,  who  they  imagined  on 
his  way  to  join  General  Johnston,  had  fallen  like  a  thun- 
derbolt upon  their  forces  in  the  Valley.  Banks  returned 
to  Winchester,  the  column  already  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
was  recalled,  and  a  part  of  their  plan  rendered  abortive. 

It  was  evident  that  Jackson  intended  remaining  in  the 
Valley,  and  it  became  necessary  to  modify  their  plan  of 
operations. 

It  was  now  determined  to  retain  Banks  in  the  Valley, 
and  order  Fremont's  army  from  Western  Virginia  to  his 
assistance.  These  two  columns,  when  united,  were  to  fall 
upon  Jackson,  crush  or  drive  him  before  them,  and  descend 
upon  Richmond  from  the  mountains. 

In  the  mean  time  McClellan  was  to  move  up  the  Pen- 
la  and  lay  siege  to  the  city;  and  McDowell  bad 
orders  to  advance  towards  Richmond  from  Fredericks- 
burg, and  to  extend  his  left  wing  until  he  formed  a  junc- 
tion with  McClellan  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hanover 
courthouse. 

The  last  of  April  saw  all  of  these  columns  in  motion. 

The  danger  which  threatened  the  confederate   capital 
was  very  great.     A  simple  but  hazardous  plan  for  its  de- 
fence  was   adopted  by  the  Southern  leaders.      < 
Johnston's  army,  properly  reinforced,  was  deemed  suffi- 
cient for  the  protection  of  Richmond,  but  not  a  man  could 


68  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

be  spared  from  it  at  that  time  to  dispute  the  advance  of 
Fremont  and  Banks  or  McDowell.  Accordingly  orders 
were  sent  to  General  Jackson  to  prevent  the  advance  of 
the  armies  in  the  mountains,  and  to  divert  McDowell 
from  his  march  to  Richmond. 

As  we  have  seen,  General  Jackson's  command  had 
been  reinforced  by  General  Ewell's  division,  and  was  now 
in  a  better  condition  to  execute  his  orders. 

It  was  necessary  for  him  to  move  without  delay.  His 
position  was  full  of  danger.  In  his  front  lay  the  army 
of  General  Banks,  who  had  advanced  up  the  Valley  for 
the  purpose  of  uniting  his  forces  with  the  column  of  Gen- 
eral Fremont.  Fremont  was  advancing  towards  Staunton, 
and  his  advanced  guard  under  General  Milroy  had  al- 
ready forced  the  small  command  of  General  Edward  John- 
son, (who  commanded  the  confederate  force  left  to  oppose 
Fremont),  back  to  a  point  near  Staunton,  a  portion*  of 
the  federals  having  crossed  the  Shenandoah  mountain, 
and  encamped  near  the  turnpike  between  Harrisonburg 
and  the  Warm  springs.  Banks  and  Fremont  might  unite 
their  forces  at  any  moment,  move  upon  Staunton,  and  not 
only  capture  that  place,  but  throw  themselves  between 
the  column  of  General  Jackson  and  that  of  General  Ed- 
ward Johnson,  who  was  lying  near  Buffalo  gap,  and  de- 
feat them  in  detail. 

The  situation  was  critical,  and  the  plan  upon  which 
General  Jackson  determined,  was  bold  and  vigorous.  He 
resolved  to  leave  General  Ewell  to  watch  Banks  and  hold 
him  in  check,  while  he  would  unite  his  own  division  with 
General  Johnson's  command,  and  thus  strengthened,  fall 
upon  Milroy,  defeat  him  and  drive  him  back  across  the 
mountains,  and  then  returning  to  the  Valley  tyith  Gene- 


THOMAS    J.  JACKSON.  69 

ral  Johnson's  brigade,  would  unite  these  forces  with  those 
of  General  Ewcll  and  drive  Banks  to  the  Pototnac. 

The  undertaking  was  one  of  great  danger,  and  required 
extraordinary  rapidity  and  firmness  in  its  execution,  but 
it  v  as  admirably  suited  to  such  an  army  and  such  a  com- 
mander. 

Being  informed  of  General  Fremont's  approach,  Gen- 
eral Banks,  on  the  4th  of  May,  evacuated  Harrisonburg, 
and  fell  back  to  a  point  lower  down  the  Valley,  from  which 
he  could  communicate  more  readily  with  the  western  army. 

General  Jackson  had  no  time  to  lose.  Ordering  Gen- 
eral Ewell  to  occup}'  his  (Jackson's)  position  in  Elk  run 
valley  and  prevent  Banks  from  advancing,  In;  moved  rap- 
idly with  his  division  towards  Staunton,  at  which  place  he 
was  joined  by  General  Smith  of  the  Virginia  Military 
Institute  with  the  corjoxof  cadets,  who,  at  his  request, 
had  come  to  join  him  in  his  defence  of  the  upper  Valley. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  General  Jackson  united  his  forces 
with  those  of  General  Edward  Johnson,  and  hurried  on 
after  Milrov.  General  Johnson's  brigade  being  in  the 
advance,  Jackson's  division  moved  in  the  following  order — 
General  Taliaferro's,  Colonel  Campbell's  and  General 
Winder's  brigades. 

The  enemy's  advance  was  encountered  near  the  inter- 
section of  the  Staunton  and  Parkersburg  and  the  Ha 
sonburg  and  Warm  springs  turnpikes,  and  driven  back 
with   ease.     The  federals  retreated  hastily,  abandoning 
their  baggage,  and  the  confederates  halted  for  the  ] 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Shenandoah  mountain. 

The  next  morning  the  army  pushed  forward,  an  1  wifl 
halted  on  Bull  pasture  mountain,  near  the  village  of  Mc- 
Dowell in  Highland  county. 


70  LIEITKXAXT-GENERAL 

General  Milroy  having  been  reinforced  by  the  com- 
mand  of  General  Schenck  of  Fremont's  army,  and  ex- 
pecting to  receive  additional  troops,  had  halted  at  Mc- 
Dowell for  the  purpose  of  disputing  the  advance  of  the 
confederates. 

Just  before  entering  the  village,  the  turnpike  by  which 
the  confederates  were  advancing,  (the  only  direct  ap- 
proach to  the  place),  passes  through  a  narrow  mountain 
gorge.  This  was  commanded  by  the  federal  artillery, 
and  a  passage  of  it  was  impossible. 

To  the  left  of  the  turnpike  is  a  detached  spur  of  the 
Bull  pasture  mountain,  known  as  Setlington's  hill.  From 
this  eminence  could  be  obtained  a  fine  view  of  the  town 
and  the  valley  in  which  it  was  situated.  General  John- 
son, with  an  escort  of  thirty  men,  ascended  this  hill  for 
the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  enemy's  position  and 
strength.  A  strong  column  of  federal  infantry  was  dis- 
covered in  the  valley ;  two  regiments  held  a  height  on 
the  right,  and  a  battery  supported  by  an  infantry  force 
was  posted  about  a  mile  in  front.  The  enemy  sent  a  lot 
of  skirmishers  to  dislodge  the  party  on  the  hill,  but  they 
were  driven  back  by  General  Johnson's  escort. 

General  Jackson  now  determined  to  occupy  Settling- 
ton's  hill,  and  ordered  General  Johnson's  whole  command 
to  secure  it.  The  52d  Virginia,  (the  first  which  came  up), 
was  thrown  out  on  the  left  to  act  as  skirmishers.  It  was 
supported  soon  afterwards  by  the  58th.  The  12th  Geor- 
gia held  the  centre,  (the  crest  of  the  hill),  and  the  44th 
Virginia  was  posted  on  the  right. 

Having  received  his  reinforcements  under  Schenck, 
Milroy  determined  to  dispute  the  possession  of  the  hill,  and 
to  attempt  to  dislodge  the  confederates  by  a  direct  attack. 


*  ,  THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  71 

The  52d  Virginia  had  hardly  reached  the  place  assigned 
it,  when  it  was  attacked  by  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  who 
were,  however,  repulsed  in  handsome  style. 

Milroy's  forces  now  advanced  rapidly  towards  the  hill, 
and  emerging  from  the  woods  opposite  the  confederate 
right,  began  an  impetuous  attack  upon'that  flank.  The 
confederates  held  their  ground  stubbornly,  and  were  soon 
reinforced  by  the  25th  and  31st  Virginia  regiments  of 
General  Johnson's  command,  who  had  just  come  up.  The 
31st  Virginia  had  been  stationed  to  guard  the  point  at 
which  the  troops  left  the  turnpike  to  climb  the  hill,  and 
when  they  went  into  the  action,  this  duty  was  performed 
by  the  21st  Virginia. 

The  battle  was  now  raging  with  great  vigor  along  the 
whole  line ;  the  enemy  making  desperate  efforts  to  turn 
the  confederate  right.  Seeing  this,  General  Jackson  sent 
the  brigade  of  General  Taliaferro  to  the  assistance  of 
General  Johnson.  The  23d  and  37th  Virginia  were  or- 
dered 'to  the  centre  to  the  support  of  the  12th  Georgia, 
which  was  manfully  holding  its  ground,  and  the  10th 
▼inia  was  hurried  to  the  right  to  reinforce  the  52d, 
which  had  beaten  back  the  federals  from  the  left  and  was 
gallantly  assailing  their  right  Hank. 

The  federals  now  threw  a  strong  force  upon  the  South- 
ern right,  but  were  driven  back  by  the  brigade  of  Gene- 
ral Taliaferro  and  12th  Georgia.  The  2-5th  and  31st 
inia  were  ordered  to  secure  an  elevated  piece  of 
wood  land  on  the  right  and  rear,  from  which  they  could 
command  the  position  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Campbell's 
brigade  now  came  up,  and,  with  the  10th  Virginia,  was 
sent  into  the  woods  on  the  right  to  prevent  any  m 
nient  on  the  confederate  right  Hank  from   that  direction. 


72  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

Being  driven  back  in  their  last  attempt,  the  enemy 
abandoned  the  hill  and  retreated  to  McDowell. 

General  Jackson  did  not  use  his  artillery  in  this  en- 
gagement. The  nature  of  the  ground  would  have  pre- 
vented the  removal  of  the  guns  in  case  of  a  defeat,  and 
he  was  unwilling'  to-  run  the  least  risk  of  losing  them. 
The  federal  artillery  was  posted  on  a  hill  in  front  of  the 
confederate  line  and  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  previous  to  the 
attack  of  the  infantry,  but  owing  to  the  conformation  of 
the  ground,  inflicted  no   damage  upon  the  confederates. 

The  battle  began  at  half-past  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon and  ended  at  half-past  eight  at  night — having  lasted 
four  hours.  General  Edward  Johnson  was  in  command 
of  the  troops  on  the  field,  and  near  the  close  of  the  en- 
gagement received  a  severe  wound  in  the  ankle,  which 
for  some  time  deprived  the  country  of  his  valuable  ser- 
vices. 

The  federal  force  numbered  about  8,000  men.  Gene- 
ral Jackson's  was  a  little  less.  The  confederates  Tost  71 
killed  and  390  wounded — total  461.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  about  1,0,00  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

During  the  night/  the  federals  lefc  McDowell  and  re- 
treated towards  Pendleton  county. 

The  next  morning  General  Jackson,,  (leaving  the  pris- 
oners and  captured  articles  in  charge  of  the  corps  of 
cadets  under  Lieutenant-colonel  Preston,  and  a  small 
body  of  cavalry),  started  in  pursuit  of  Milroy's  defeated 
forces.  Parties  were  sent  to  obstruct  the  North  river, 
Dry  river  and  Brock's  gaps  to  prevent  Banks  from  send- 
ing assistance  to  Milroy. 

The  enemy  halted  a  few  miles  beyond  Franklin  in  Pen- 
dleton county,  and  commenced  to  fortify  their  position, 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  TS 


Seeing  this,  and  knowing  that  Milroy  would  soon  receive 
reinforcements  from  Fremont,  and  feeling  assured  that 
he  had  very  effectually  put  an  end  to  all  probability  of  a 
junction  between  Milroy  and  Banks,  General  Jackson 
returned  to  McDowell,  which  place  he  reached  on  the 
14th  of  May. 

Before  leaving  Franklin,  General  Jackson,  on  the  12th 
of  May  addressed  his  troops  in  a  few  terse  and  pointed 
remarks,  thanking  them  for  the  courage,  endurance  and 
other  high  soldierly  qualities  they  had  displayed  at  the 
battle  of  McDowell,  and  on  the  march,  and  appointed  10 
o'clock  of  that  day  "as  an  occasion  of  prayer  and  thanks- 
giving throughout  the  army,  for  the  victory  which  fol- 
lowed that  bloody  engagement." 

A  writer  who  was  present,  thus  describes  the  solemn 
scene  : 

"  There,  in  the  beautiful  little  valley  of  the  South 
branch,  with  the  blue  and  towering  mountains  covered 
with  the  verdure  of  spring,  the  green  sward  smiling  a 
welcome  to  the  season  of  flowers,  and  the  bright  sun,  un- 
clouded, lending  a  genial  refreshing  warmth,  that  army, 
equipped  for  the  stern  conflict  of  war,  bent  in  humble 
praise  and  thanksgiving  to  the  God  of  battles  for  the 
success  vouchsafed  to  our  arms  in  the  recent  sanguinary 
encounter  of  the  two  armies.  While  this  solemn  cere- 
mony was  progressing  in  every  regiment,  the  minds  of 
the  soldiery  drawn  oft'  from  the  bayonet  and  the  sabre, 
the  enemy's  artillery  was  occasionally  belching  forth  its 
leaden  death,  yet  all  unmoved  stood  that  worshipping 
army,  acknowledging  the  supremacy  of  the  will  of  Him 
who  controls  the  destinies  of  men  and  nations,  and  chossR 
the  weaker  things  of  earth  to  confound  the  mighty." 

10 


74  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

The  country  was  painfully  excited  -with  regard  to  the 
threatening  aspect  of  affairs  west  of  the  mountains,  and 
anxious  eyes  were  turned  towards  the  gallant  array  of 
the  Valley,  striving  in  vain  to  pierce  the  gloom  that 
seemed  to  enshroud  it.  The  first  gleam  of  light  that 
flashed  over  the  distant  hills,  was  the  news  of  the  victory 
at  McDowell,  which  was  announced  by  General  Jackson 
in  the  following  graceful  and  characteristic  dispatch : 

•  Valley  District,  May  9,  '61.  \ 

Via  Staunton,  May  10.      J 
To  General  S.  Cooper  : 

God  blessed  our  arms  with  victory  at  McDowell,  yeterday. 

T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-general. 

The  first  part  of  General  Jackson's  plan  had  succeeded 
admirably.  Fremont's  advance  had  been  driven  back, 
and  the  danger  of  a  junction  between  this  force  and 
Banks'  army  averted.  God  had  blessed  every  effort  with 
success,  and  now  nothing  remained  but  to  drive  Banks 
out  of  the  Valley. 

That  officer,  during  the  movement  of  General  Jackson 
west  of  the  Shenandoah  mountain,  had  fallen  back  to 
Strasburg,  which  place  he  was  fortifying.  He  had  com- 
mitted the  folly  of  dividing  his  forces,  a  portion  of  them 
being  stationed  at  Front  Koyal  in  Warren  county.  Gen- 
eral Shields'  division  (about  8,000  men),  had  been  sent 
east  of  the  mountains  to  join  General  McDowell  at  Fre- 
dericksburg. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  General  Jackson  left  the  village 
of  McDowell,  taking  with  him  General  Johnson's  forces, 
and  crossing  the  Shenandoah  mountain,  encamped  at 
night  near  the  Lebanon  white  sulphur  springs.  Here 
the  troops  were  allowed  a  brief  period  of  rest  after  their 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  75 

long  and  fatiguing  marches,  and  the  fast  recommended 
by  the  president's  proclamation  occurring  in  the  interval, 
was  duly  observed.  On  the  17th  of  May  the  army 
marched  towards  Harrisonburg. 

General  Ewell,  whose  orders  were  to  watch  Banks,  had 
left  Elk  run  valley,  and  had  followed  him  down  the  Val- 
ley of  Virginia  as  far  as  New  Market,  and  General  Jack- 
son hurrying  on  through  Harrisonburg,  formed  a  junction 
with  Ewell's  division  near  New  Market. 

Having  united  his  entire  command,  General  Jackson 
began  in  earnest  his  movement  against  Banks.  He  de- 
termined to  fall  upon  the  federal  force  at  Front  Royal 
and  capture  it,  hoping  to  get  into  Banks'  rear,  or  compel 
him  to  leave  his  works  at  Strasburg  and  fall  back  towards 
Winchester.  In  order  to  accomplish  this,  he  left  New 
Market  and  marched  to  Luray  in  Page  county,  leaving 
Ashby  (who  had  been  made  a  brigadier-general)  to  hold 
his  position  until  the  next  morning,,  (in  order  that  the 
movement  might  be  as  secret  as  possible),  and  then  to 
rejoin  the  army,  taking  care,  however,  to  leave  behind  a 
force  sufficient  to  prevent  any  information  of  the  move- 
ment reaching  General  Banks. 

General  Jackson's  army  now  consisted  of  his  own  di- 
vision, (the  1st,  or  "  Stonewall  brigade,"  under  General 
Winder  ;  the  2nd  brigade  under  Colonel  Campbell ;  the 
3rd  brigade  under  Colonel  Fulkerson) ;  the  troops  of 
General  Edward  Johnson  ;  General  Ewell's  division,  (the 
brigades  of  Generals  Elzey,  Trimble  and  Taylor) ;  the 
Maryland  line  under  Brigadier-general  George  H.  Stew- 
art, (the  1st  Maryland  regiment  and  Brockenborough's 
battery)  ;  Ashby's  cavalry  ;  and  the  2nd  and  6th  Vir- 
ginia cavalry  under  Colonel  Flournoy. 


76  LTET'TEXANT-GEXERAL 

On  the  22d  of  May,  General  Jackson  moved  from  Lu~ 
ray  towards  Front  Royal.  Eweil  led  the  advance  and 
halted  at  night  about  ten  miles  from  Front  Royal.  At 
daybreak  on  the  morning  of  Friday  the  23d  of  May,  Gen- 
eral Jackson  resumed  his  march.  About  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  Front  Royal,  he  encountered  the  federal  pick- 
ets. These  were  driven  in  and  followed  rapidly  by  the 
advance  of  General  Ewcll,  which  consisted  of  the  1st  Ma- 
ryland regiment  supported  by  Wheat's  Louisiana  bat- 
talion, followed  by  Ta}dor's  brigade  as  a  reserve.  The 
federals  made  a  brisk  fight,  but  were  driven  rapidly 
through  the  town,  losing  a  number  of  prisoners. 

The  enemy  halted  a  short  distance  beyond  the  town, 
and  occupied  a  commanding  ridge  to  the  right  of  the 
turnpike,  opening  with  their  rifled  cannon  upon  the  ad- 
vancing columns  of  the  confederates. 

A  battery  was  moved  forward  to  drive  them  from  their 
position,  the  6th .Louisiana  sent  through  the  woods  to 
turn  their  flank,  and  the  1st  Maryland  and  Wheat's  bat- 
talion advanced  upon  them  from  'the  front.  The  enemy 
offered  but  a  feeble  resistance  to  these  last  named  forces, 
and  as  soon  as  their  skirmishers  were  driven  in,  fell  back 
across  both  forks  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  and  endea- 
vored to  burn  the  bridge  over  the  North  fork.  The  con- 
federates, following  rapidly,  drove  them  from  the  bridge, 
extinguished  the  flames  and  crossed  the  river  in  pursuit. 
The  enemy  hurried  on  in  the  direction  of  Winchester — 
the  confederates  following  with  enthusiasm. 

General  Ashby  and  Colonel  Flournoy  had  been  sent 
across  the  South  fork  of  the  river  above  the  federal  posi- 
tion, for  the  purpose  of  destroying  railroad  and  telegraphic 
communication  between  Strasburg  and  Front  Royal.     Col- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  77 

onel  Flournoy  executed  his  orders,  and  crossing  the  North 
fork,  came  up  with  a  force  of  the  enemy  consisting  of  two 
companies  of  cavalry,  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  the  1st 
(U.  S.)  Maryland  regiment  and  two  companies  of  Penn- 
sylvania infantry.  Colonel  Flournoy  had  with  him  four 
companies  of  the  6th  Virginia  cavalry.  A  spirited  at- 
tack was  made  upon  the  federals,  who  were  driven  back, 
but  were  soon  rallied.  •  A  second  attack  was  made  upon 
them,  and  this  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  their  infantry, 
the  dispersion  of  their  cavalry  and  the  capture  of  their 
artillery.  This  force  had  been  stationed  near  Cedarsville 
to  check  the  confederate  pursuit. 

General  Ashby,  moving  towards  the  west,  encountered  a 
force  of  the  enemy  strongly  posted  at  Buckton.  He  at- 
tacked and  routed  them. 

The  army  pushed  on  in  pursuit  for  a  short  distance, 
but  halted  at  dark. 

Seven  hundred  prisoners,  two  ten-pounder  rifled  Par- 
rott  guns  and  a  large  amount  of  commissary  and  quar- 
termaster stores  were  captured  during  the  day.  General 
Jackson  had  turned  the  enemy's  flank,  and  could  now  ad- 
vance towards  the  Potomac. 

A  new  precaution  had  to  be  taken  now.  If  General 
Banks  should  determine  to  leave  Strasbure,  he  had  two 
routes  of  escape  before  him — one  to  the  Potomac  through 
Winchester  ;  the  other  through  Front  Royal  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Manassas  and  Washington  city.  In  order  to 
cut  him  off,  it  was  necessary  to  watch  both  routes.  Ac- 
cordingly General  Jackson  divided  his  forces.  Retaining 
with  himself  the  main  body  of  the  army,  he  moved  to- 
wards Middletown,  thirteen  miles  south  of  Winchester,  at 
which  point   he  wished  to  strike   the   Valley   turnpike. 


78  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

This  place  was  only  five  miles  north  of  Strasburg,  and 
should  General  Banks  determine  to  remain  in  his  works, 
it  would  be  very  easy  to  advance  upon  him. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  General  Jackson  moved 
towards  Middletown,  Ashby's  cavalry  being  in  the  ad- 
vance. General  Ewell  was  ordered  to  move  towards 
Winchester.  Brigadier-general  George  H.  Stewart  had 
been  placed  temporarily  in  command  of  the  2nd  and  6th 
Virginia  cavalry,  and  had  been  sent  to  Newtown,  a  point 
about  nine  miles  south  of  Winchester,  to  observe  the 
enemy  and  report  his  movements.  He  captured  some 
prisoners,  a  number  of  wagons  and  ambulances  with  medi- 
cal stores  and  instruments. 

General  Banks,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  capture  of 
Front  Royal,  determined  to  abandon  Strasburg  and  re- 
treat to  Winchester ;  or  as  he  says  in  his  official  report, 
"  to  enter  the  lists  with  the  enemy  (confederates)  in  a 
race  or  a  battle — as  he  should  choose — for  the  possession 
of  Winchester."  Judging  by  his  movements,  he  must 
have  concluded  that  he  was  "  to  enter  the  lists  in  a  race  ;" 
for  he  fell  back  from  Strasburg  with  the  greatest  rapidity, 
abandoning  on  his  march  everything  that  was  calculated 
to  impede  his  army. 

Having  been  informed  by  General  Stewart,  that  Banks 
was  retreating  from  Strasburg,  General  Jackson  pressed 
on.  When  he  reached  Middletown  he  found  a  dense 
mass  of  yankee  cavalry  hurrying  along  the  Valley  turn- 
pike, almost  blocking  up  the  road.  Poague's  and  Chew's 
guns  and  General  Taylor's  infantry  made  a  spirited  at- 
tack upon  these  and  soon  put  them  to  flight,  having  in- 
flicted upon  them  a  heavy  loss  and  captured  many  pris- 
oners.    The   enemy's  column  was  pierced.     A  part  re- 


THOMAS  J.   JACKSON.  79 

treated  towards  Winchester.  A  lot  of  wagons  was  seen 
m  the  distance  going  north,  and  Ashby's  cavalry  was  sent 
in  pursuit.  They  had  hardly  started,  when  the  federal 
artillery,  which  had  been  cut  off,  opened  upon  General 
Jackson's  command,  seemingly  with  the  intention  to  break 
through  Ins  hne  and  secure  its  retreat  to  Winchester. 
laylors  bngade  was  hurled  upon  this  portion  of  the 
federal  column,  and  soon  it  was  flying  towards  Strasburg. 
ibis  part  of  Banks'  command  afterwards  crossed  tho 
mountains  and  retreated  to  the  Potomac. 

General  Jackson  was  now  satisfied  that  the  main  col- 
umn, of  Banks'  army  had  passed  on  towards  Winchester, 
and  ho  hurried  on  in   pursuit.     The  enemy  exhibited 
evidences  of  great  panic  and  confusion.     Wagons  were 
upset  in  the  road  and  abandoned  or  burned;  clothing 
arms,  ammunition,  everything  that   could  impede  their 
flight  was  thrown  away  by  the  men;  and  prisoners  were 
taken  at  almost  every  hundred  yards.     Everything  was 
favorable  to   the  belief  that  Banks'   command  was  too 
greatly  demoralized  to  make  a  successful  resistance  to 
the  advance  of  the  confederates.     Still,  it  was  necessary 
to  continue  the   pursuit   with  unremitting  vigor,  as  the 
enemy  might  be  rallied  if  allowed  time. 

_  Unfortunately  the  cavalry  and  infantry  sent  forward 
with  General  Ashby,  tempted  by  the  rich  booty  which 
surrounded  them,  abandoned  the  pursuit  and  turned  their 
attention  to  plundering.  General  Ashby  sought  by  every 
means  in  his  power  to  make  his  men  return  to  their  duty 
but  in  vain.  They  wore  deaf  to  all  commands  and  ap- 
peals, and  the  artillery  which  had  continued  the  pursuit 
as  far  as  Newtown,  was  left  without  any  support.  A 
delay  of  two  hours  ensued. 


LI  EU  TENANT-GENERAL 

Profiting  by  the  temporary  cessation  of  the  pursuit, 
the  federals  rallied  and  opened  on  the  confederate  batte- 
ries with  four  pieces  of  artillery,  which  were  posted  on 
the  northern  edge  of  the  town.  Poague's  two  rifled  guns 
replied  with  spirit  to  this  fire.  Matters  stood  thus  when 
General  Jackson  arrived.  About  dark  the  federals  aban- 
doned Newtown  and  fled  towards  "Winchester.  General 
Jackson  pressed  on  in  pursuit,  meeting  on  all  sides  large 
numbers  of  wagons  loaded  with  stores,  abandoned,  and 
in  some  cases  fired  by  the  enemy.  Repeatedly  during 
this  night  march  the  confederates  were  fired  upon  by  am- 
buscaded parties  of  the  enemy,  and  skirmishing  continued 
throughout  the  nisdit. 

o  o 

General  Jackson  regarded  it  as  of  the  highest  impor- 
tance to  seize  before  daylight,  the  hills  around  Winches- 
ter, and  in  spite  of  the  darkness  and  many  difficulties  with 
which  he  met,  continued  to  press  forward  his  advance  until 
nearly  morning.    The  other  troops  came  up  more  leisurely. 

General  Ewell  had  moved  forward  by  the  road  from 
Front  Royal  to  Winchester,  and  had  taken  position  about 
three  miles  from  the  latter  place,  with  his  pickets  a  mile 
in  advance  of  his  main  column.  -His  force  consisted  of 
Trimble's  brigade,  the  1st  Maryland  regiment,  the  cavalry 
under  General  Stewart,  (which  had  been  sent  to  him  from 
Newtown),  and  Brockenborough's  and  Courtney's  batte- 
ries. 

About  daybreak  General  Jackson  moved  forward  upon 
Winchester.  Finding  that  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were 
in  possession  of  the  hill  on  the  southwest,  which  over- 
looked the  town,  he  ordered  General  Winder  to  dislodge 
them  and  secure  the  hill.  This  order  was  executed  in 
handsome  style  by  the  "Stonewall  brigade/' 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  81 

Two  Farrott  grins,  (of  the  Rockbridge  artillery),  and 
Carpenter's  and  Cutshaw's  batteries  were  posted  on  the 
hill,  and  opened  on  a  federal  battery  in  front,  which  was 
keeping  up  an  effective  fire  upon  the  confederates.  About 
this  time  a  federal  battery  and  a  detachment  of  sharp- 
shooters began  a  heavy  fire  from  the  left ;  the  position  of 
the  battery  enabling  it  to  enfilade  the  confederate  artil- 
lery. The  Parrott  guns  were  turned  to  the  left,  and  the 
sharpshooters  were  forced  to  protect  themselves  behind  a 
neighboring  stone  wall.  The  battery,  ho  ^  ever,  continued 
to  pour  in  a  heavy  fire  upon  Poague,  who  changed  his 
position  to  the  left  and  rear,  and  opened  effectively  upon 
the  federal  battery  on  the  left,  occasionally  firing  solid 
shot  at  the  stone  wall,  from  behind  which  the  yankee 
sharpshooters  were  keeping  up  a  destructive  fusiladc 
upon  the  southern  troops.  Carpenter  and  Cutshaw  had 
silenced  the  federal  battery  in  front. 

During  the  artillery  engagement,  General  Banks  moved 
his  infantry  to  the  left,  clearly  intimating  that  he  meant 
to  occupy  the  northern  portion  of  the  hill.  General 
Jackson  ordered  General  Taylor  to  check  this.  Taylor 
at  once  began  to  ascend  the  hill,  passing  in  General 
Winder's  rear,  and  climbing  the  steep,  attacked  the  enemy 
with  impetuosity  and  drove  him  down  the  hill  and  across 
the  plain  below.  The  "  Stonewall  brigade"  was  now 
thrown  forward,  and  the  enemy  recoiling  before  this  mag- 
nificent charge,  fled  towards  Winchester. 

General  Elzey,  wThos,e  brigade  had  been  held  in  reserve, 
was  now  ordered  forward  in  pursuit. 

General  Ewcll  had  attacked  the  enemy  with  vigor  on 
the  right,  and  had  succeeded  in  outflanking  them  and 
driving   them   from  that  portion  of  the   hill.     lie   then 

11 


' 


82  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

moved  rapidly  towards  the  eastern  side  of  Winchester, 
and  approached  just  as  Taylor's  brigade  was  advancing 
on  the  opposite  side.  There  was  now  a  probability  of  the 
federal  army  being  entirely  surrounded,  as  both  of  their 
flanks  had  been  turned,  and  to  avoid  this  they  retreated 
rapidly  into  Winchester. 

The  confederates  hurried  on  in  pursuit.  A  feeble  re- 
sistance was  made  in  the  streets  of  the  town,  but  the 
enemy  were  driven  through  it.  In  passing  through  Win- 
chester the  troops  were  enthusiastically  greeted  by  the 
citizens.  One.  of  the  participants  thus  describes  the 
scene  : 

"  Many  were  killed  in  the  streets,  and  a  remarkable 
feature  of  the  day  was  that  when  the  tide  of  battle  rolled 
towards  the  town,  the  glorious  women  of  Winchester 
turned  out  to  give  relief  to  our  wounded  and  exhausted 
soldiers,  and  so  regardless  were  they  of  danger,  that  they 
were  not  deterred  from  their  pious  duty  by  the  shot  and 
shell  which  fell  around  them.  In  the  streets  our  men  had 
to  advance  a  guard  to  clear  the  women  out  of  the  way 
for  our  platoons  to  deliver  their  fire.  This,  I  am  assured, 
was  literally  the  case  in  more  instances  than  one." 

While  passing  through  Winchester,  the  enemy  made 
an  ineffectual  attempt  to  burn  the  town.  They  had  pre- 
served up  to  this  time  a  certain  degree  of  order  in  their 
movements,  but  after  passing  beyond  the  town,  a  few 
shots  from  the  confederate  artillery  threw  them  into  the 
wildest  confusion. 

The  troops  of  General  Jackson  were  greatly  exhausted 
by  their  long  marches,  but  his  order  was  to  "press  right 
on  to  tlie  Potomac"  It  was  impossible  to' do  this.  The 
cavalry  had  not  come  up,  and  the  infantry  were  incapable 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  83 

of  keeping  up  with  the  enemy,  and  after  a  pursuit  of  two 
hours  with  the  infantry  and  artillery,  General  Jackson 
was  forced  to  order  a  halt.  Ashby's  cavalry  could  not 
be  found,  and  an  order  was  sent  to  Brigadier-general 
George  H.  Stewart  who  had  under  his  command  the  2nd 
and  6th  Virginia  cavalry,  to  move  as  rapidly  as  possible  and 
join  General  Jackson  "  on  the  Martinsburg  turnpike,  and 
carry  on  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  with  vigor."  General 
Stewart  replied  that  "he  was  under  the  command  of 
General  Ewell,  and  the  order  must  come  through  him." 
After  a  slight  delay,  occasioned  by  this,  General  Stewart 
joined  General  Jackson  with  his  cavalry  and  continued 
the  pursuit,  capturing  many  prisoners. 

On  his  march,  General  Stewart  was  joined  by  General 
Ashby  and  his  cavalry,  who  had  been  delayed  by  attempt- 
ing to  cut  off  a  part  of  the  federal  force.  The  cavalry 
pursuit  was  continued  to  Martinsburg,  where  the  troops 
captured  a  large  amount  of  army  stores. 

Banks  was,  by  this  time,  out  of  danger,  having  crossed 
the  Potomac  and  retreated  into  Maryland.  His  forces 
had  retreated  in  great  demoralization  after  their  final 
rout  at  Winchester,  and  if  the  cavalry  of  General  Jack- 
son had  conducted  the  pursuit  with  the  ability  and  energy 
which  he  had  the  right  to  expect  of  them,  but  few  of  the 
fugitives  would  have  succeeded  in  escaping  across  the  Po- 
tomac. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  the  army  held  a  solemn  thanks- 
giving to  God  for  the  success  that  had  crowned  their 
efforts,  and  implored  his  favor  in  •  their  future  career. 
This  day  and  the  next  were  allowed  to  the  army  as  a 
period  of  rest  after  their  extraordinary  exertions. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  General  Winder 


84  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

was  ordered  to  move  towards  the  Potomac,  and  at  once 
set  out  in  the  direction  of  Charlestown,  taking  with  him 
the  "Stonewall  brigade"  and  Carpenter's  and  Poague's 
batteries.  Hearing  that  the  enemy  were  in  strong  force 
at  Charlestown,  he  sent  information  of  this  fact  to  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  who  directed  General  Ewell  to  go  to  his 
assistance  with  reinforcements.  General  Winder  con- 
tinued to  move  forward,  and  upon  arriving  at  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  a  little  less  than  a  mile  from  Charlestown,  dis- 
covered the  federals,  apparently  about  fifteen  hundred 
strong,  in  line  of  battle.  He  moved  on  for  the  purpose 
of  attacking  them. 

As  his  command  came  in  sight,  the  federals  opened  on 
it  with  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Carpenter's  battery  was 
thrown  forward,  and  in  twenty  minutes  forced  the  fede- 
rals to  retreat.  They  fled  in  great  confusion,  throwing 
aside  their  arms  and  equipments  of  all  kinds.  They  were 
pursued  to  Halltown.  Seeing  a  force  of  the  enemy  in 
position  on  Bolivar  heights,  General  "Winder  returned  to 
Charlestown. 

On  the  next  day  the  army  took  position  near  Halltown, 
and  the  2nd  Virginia  was  sent  to  occupy  the  heights  in 
Loudoun  county,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Shenandoah 
river,  to  drive  the  enemy  out  of  Harpers  Ferry  and  force 
them  across  the  Potomac. 

Leaving  the  army  at  this  point,  let  us  glance  at  a  few 
facts  connected  with  the  campaign. 

The  expedition  had  been  a  complete  success.  In  the 
brief 'period  of  twenty-two  days,  General  Jackson  had 
passed  the  mountains,  defeated  Milroy  and  driven  him 
into  Western  Virginia ;  then  recrossing  the  mountains 
and  hurrying   down  the  Valley,  had  fallen  upon  Banks 


TnOMAS  J.  JACKSON.  85 

and  driven  him  across  the  Potomac.  In  order  to  accom- 
plish this,  the  army  had  marched  more  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  had  fought  three  battles  and  a  number  of 
minor  engagements.  They  had  sustained,  in  the  opera- 
tions in  the  Valley,  a  loss  of  68  killed  and  329  wounded 
and  3  missing;  making  a  total  of  400  men.  The  enemy 
lost  about  800  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  2,300  pris- 
oners. In  addition  to  these,  TOO  wounded  men  were 
found  in  the  hospitals  of  Winchester,  and  50  in  Stras- 
burg,  making  the  total  number  captured  3,050,  and  his 
entire  loss  about  3,850.  The  sick  and  wounded  were 
paroled  in  the  hospitals,  and  the  surgeons  (eight  in  num- 
ber) who  were  taken  with  them,  were  unconditionally  re- 
leased, after  being  held  one  day  as  prisoners  of  war. 

The  army  captured  at  Front  Royal,  Winchester,  Mar- 
tinsburg  and  Charlestown,  an  exceedingly  large  amount 
of  stores  and  other  public  property.  A  part  of  this  was 
saved,  but  a  large  portion  of  it  was  burnt  for  lack  of 
means  to  remove  it.  Much  of  it  was  also  issued  to  the 
citizens.  Two  large  hospitals,  furnished  with  every  ne- 
cessary article,  were  found  in  Winchester,  and  left  un- 
touched, with  all  their  supplies  for  the  use  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  of  the  enemy.  A  large  warehouse  in  Win- 
chester filled  with  medical  stores  was  captured,  and  its 
contents  saved.  More  than  100  nead  of  cattle,  400 
wTagons  loaded,  34,000  pounds  of  bacon,  large  quantities 
of  flour,  sugar,  coffee,  army  bread,  cheese,  and  600  sacks 
of  salt,  were  accounted  for  by  the  proper  officers,  but 
large  quantities  of  these  stores  were  taken  by  the  troops 
for  their  own  use,  and  not  accounted  for.  Sutlers  stores, 
valued  at  $25,000  were  given  to  the  troops,  there  being 
no  means  of  removing  them.     One  hundred  and  twenty- 


88  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

five  thousand,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  dollars  worth 

of  quartermaster  stores  were  brought  off  and  immense 

quantities  destroyed ;  and  9,354  small  arms  and  2  rifled 

cannon,  constituted  a  part  of  the  ordnance  stores  which 

were  brought  away. 

General  Jackson  announced  his  victory  in  the  follow- 

mg  dispatch: 

Winchester,  May  26th. 
To  GeneralS..  Cooper:         -% 

During  the  last  three  days  God  has  blessed  our  arms  with  bril- 
liant success.  On  Friday  the  federals  at  Front  Royal  were  routed, 
and  one  section  of  artillery  in  addition  to  many  prisoners,  captured. 
On  Saturday,  Bank's  main  column,  while  retreating  from  Strasburg 
to  Winchester,  was  pierced — the  rear  part  retreating  towards  Stras- 
burg. On  Sunday  the  other  part  was  routed  at  this  place.  At  last 
accounts  Brigadier-general  George  H.  Stewart  was  pressing  them  with 
cavalry  and  artillery,  and  capturing  many.  A  large  amount  of  ord- 
nance,.medical  and  other 'stores  have  fallen  into  our  hands. 

T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-general. 

The  defeat  of  General  Banks'  army  and  its  flight  into 
Maryland,  together  with  the  approach  of  General  Jack- 
son to*the  Potomac,  threw  the  government  and  people  of 
the  United  States  into  a  fever  of  excitement.  The  wild- 
est rumors  prevailed  every  where  that  General  Jackson 
was  advancing  upon  Washington  and  that  the  city  was  in 
great  danger.  The  federal  secretary  of  war  telegraphed 
to  the  governor  of  Massachusetts :  "  Send  all  the  troops 
forward  that  you  can  immediately.  Banks  completely 
routed.         *  *  *         Intelligence  from  various 

quarters  leave  no  doubt  that  the  enemy  in  great  force  are 
advancing  upon  Washington.  You  will  please  organize 
and  forward  immediately  all  the  volunteer  and  militia 
force  in  vour  state." 

A  feeling  of   perfect  terror   prevailed  every  where. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  87 

Men  wore  long  and  anxious  faces ;  and  the  questions — 
"Where  is  Jackson?"  "Has  he  taken  Washington?" 
were  upon  every  tongue. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  a  part  of  the  federal  plan  of 
operations  against  Richmond,  was  the  advance  of  Gene- 
ral McDowell  from  Fredericksburg  towards  that  city,  and 
that  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  General  Jackson's  move- 
ment was  to  divert  him  from  that  march.  General  Jackson 
hoped,  when  the  campaign  qpened,  that  the  events  would 
take  such  a  turn  as  to  enable  him  to  cross  the  Potomac 
and  attack  Washington  city.  The  situation  of  affairs 
after  the  defeat  of  Banks,  did  not  admit  of  any  attempt 
to  put  this  movement  into  execution. 

After  General  Jackson  retired  up  the  Valley  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Swift  run  gap,  General  Banks  fell  back 
to  Strasburg,  and  sent  General  Shields'  division  to  rein- 
force General  McDowell  at  Fredericksburg,  who  was  pre- 
paring to  begin  his  march  upon  Richmond. 

On  the  17th  of  May  the  federal  secretary  of  war  tele- 
graphed General  McDowell  to  begin  his  march  as  soon  as 
Shields'  division  reached  him.  On  the  same  day  he  wrote 
to  General  McClellan,  then  in  front  of  Richmond,  and 
clamoring  for  reinforcements,  that  McDowell  had  been 
ordered'  to  join  him,  and  would  move  in  a  few  days  "  with 
between  thirty-five  and  forty  thousand  men." 

Had  this  column  been  allowed  to  unite  with  McClellan, 
the  condition  of  Richmond  would  have  been  far  more 
critical.  General  McDowell  in  a  letter  to  General  Mc- 
Clellan, informed  him  that  he  would  move  about  the  24th 
of  May. 

The  movement  was  never  executed.  All  this  while 
Jackson  was  marching  rapidly  down  the  Valley  for  the 


^8  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

purpose  of  preventing  it.  On  the  23rd,  the  day  before 
McDowell  *as  to  have  begun  his  march,  the  blow  was 
struck  at  Front  Royal,  and  the  next  day  Winchester  fell, 
and  the  broken  fragments  of  the  federal  army  were 
driven  across  the  Potomac.  « 

The  authorities  at  Washington  had  been  suspicious  of 
Jackson's  intentions.  Now  they  were  seriously  alarmed. 
It  was  resolved  to  abandon,  or  at  least  to  postpone  McDow- 
ell's movement  upon  Richmond,  in  order  to  ensure  the 
;y  of  Washington  city.  Fremont,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, had  been  ordered  to  move  from  Western  Virginia 
to  help  Banks,  and  instructions  were  now  sent  to  him  to 
hasten  his  movements  and  fall  upon  Jackson's  rear. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  Lincoln  sent  the  following  order 
to  General  McDowell : 

"  General  Fremont  has  been  ordered  by  telegraph  to 
move  from  Franklin  on  Harrisonburg,  to  relieve  General 
tks  and  capture  or  destroy  Jackson's  or  Ewcll's  forces. 
You  are  instructed,  laying  aside  for  the  present  the  move- 
ment on  Richmond,  to  put  twenty  thousand  men  in  motion 
at  once  for  the  Shenandoah,  moving  on  the  line  or  in  ad- 
vance of  the  Manassas  gap  railroad.  Your  object  will 
be  to  capture  the  forces  of  Jackson  and  Ewell,  either  in 
cooperation  with  General  Fremont,  or  in  case  a  want  of 
supplies  or  transportation  interferes  with  his  movement, 
it  is  believed  that  the  force  with  which  you  move  will  be 
sufficient  to  accomplish  the  object  alone.  The  informa- 
tion thus  received  here  makes  it  probable  that  if  the 
enemy  operate  actively  against  Banks,  you  will  not  be  able 
to  count  upon  much  assistance  from  him,  but  may  even  have 
to  release  him.  Reports  received  this  moment,  arc  that 
Banks  is  lighting  with  Ewell  eight  miles  from  Winchester." 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  89  ~ 

i  the  same  day  General  McDowell  wrote  to  the  sec- 
retary of  war : 

"  The  president's  order  has  been  received ;  is  in  pro- 
cess of  execution.     This  is  a  crushing  Mow  to  us." 

On  the  same  day  he  informed  the  president  that  Shields' 
division  had  been  sent  off. 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  the  remaining  objects  of  the  cam- 
paign had  been  successfully  accomplished.  McDowell 
hail  been  prevented  from  joining  McClellan. 

But  this  success,  while  it  diminished  the  peril  that  hung 
over  Richmond,  only  increased  the  danger  that  threatened 
sral  Jackson.  He  was  now  menaced  by  two  armies, 
which  were  advancing  rapidly  upon  him.  Fremont  was 
advancing  upon  him  from  Romney,  and  Shields  was 
marching  from  Fredericksburg.  These  forces  were  seek- 
ing to  form  a  junction  in  his  rear  and  cut  off  his  retreat  y* 
up  the  Valley. 

It  was  necessary  to  prevent  this.     On  the  80th  of  May, 
lie  returned  to  Winchester  with  all  his  forces  except  the 
"Stonewall  brigade"  and  the  cavalry.     General  Winder 
was  ordered  to  withdraw  the  2nd  Virginia  from  Loudoun 
.  and  then  to  rejoin  the  main  body  of  the  army 
with  all  speed.     The  cavalry  were  to  accompany  him. 
fore  Winchester  was  reached,  Front  Royal  had  been 
:.  by  the  federal  cavalry,  having  been  abandoned 
by  the  fore-  eneral  Jackson  to  hold  it,  (the  12th 

Gcor  is  of  Rice's  battery  under  Colonel  Con- 

nor.)    A  party  of  federal  prisoners  and  some  of  the  con- 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.    About 
i  -master  and  commissary  stores 
!  Jackson,  were  burnt  to  pre- 
iiemy. 


- 

■ 

. 

90 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

On  the  31st  of  May,  General  Jackson  left  Winchester 
with  his  entire  command,  except  the  troops  left  with 
General  Winder.  He  was  informed  that  Fremont  was 
approaching  by  way  of  Wardensville,  endeavoring  to 
reach  Strasburg  before  him.  The  march  of  the  two 
armies  to  Strasburg  was  literally  a  race  between  them. 

General  Jackson's  line,  including  his  wagons  and  pris- 
oners, was  nearly  twelve  miles  long. 

Strasburg  was  reached  that  night ;  the  army  having 
marched  fifty  miles  since  about  noon  of  the  30th,  encum- 
bered with  a  large  park  of  artillery,  a  train  of  fifteen 
hundred  wagons,  and  2,300  prisoners.  The  men  were 
far  from  being  fresh,  as  their  recent  marches  had  greatly 
fatigued  them,  but  they  pushed  on  with  cheerfulness, 
satisfied  with  the  knowledge  that  u  Old  Jack"  thought  it 
necessary  to  move  with  speed.  This  wonderful  march, 
together  with  their  other  movements,  gained  for  them  the 
title  of  "  Jackson's  foot  cavalry." 

Having  reached  Strasburg,  it  was  necessary  for  Gene- 
ral Jackson  to  hold  it  until  General  Winder  could  reach 
him ;  and  in  order  to  observe  the  movements  of  Fremont, 
a  small  force  was  thrown  out  in  the  direction  of  Wardens- 
ville. The  next  morning,  June  1st,  this  force  was  at- 
tacked by  Fremont's  advance.  General  Ewcll  was  sent 
with  his  division  to  check  the  federal  army.  A  spirited 
engagement  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  federal  advanco 
falling  back  a  short  distance. 

Late  in  the  day  General  Winder  arrived,  his  £roops 
having  marched  with  great  rapidity.  Having  united  his 
forces  once,jfio££^Gcncral  Jackson  on  the  evening  of  tho 
1st  of  June  left  Strasburg,  and  resumed  his  retreat  up 
.the  Valley. 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  01 

The  confederate  army  had  not  gotten  far  from  Stras- 
burg,  before  their  departure  was  discovered  by  the  ad- 
vanced forces  of  Fremont,  who  pushed  on  in  pursuit. 
During  the  night  the  federal  cavalry  attacked  Jackson's 
rear  guard,  but  were  driven  back  with  the  loss  of  several 
prisoners. 

From  these  prisoners,  General  Jackson  learned  that 
Shields  had  been  at  Front  Iloyal  for  two  days  without 
making  any  effort  to  effect  a  junction  with  Fremont,  and 
was  then  moving  southwards.  He  at  once  supposed  that 
Shields  was  marching  on  Luray  for  the  purpose  of  moving 
from  there  to  New  Market,  and  intercepting  his  retreat. 
To  prevent  this,  he  had  the  White  house  and  Columbia 
bridges  over  the  South  fork  of  the  Shenandoah  de- 
stroyed. 

On  the  2nd  of  June,  Jackson's  rear  guard  was  attacked 
by  the  federal  advance.  .  At  first  the  cavalry  and  artillery 
of  the  confederates  were  thrown  into  confusion  by  the 
fire  of  the  federal  artillery.  The  yankec  cavalry  pressed 
forward  to  charge  them  before  they  recovered  from  their 
confusion,  but  were  repulsed  by  a  handful  of  stragglers, 
which  had  been  collected  by  General  Ashby  to  meet  this 
danger. 

The  6th  and  2nd  Virginia  cavalry  were  placed  under 
the  command  of  General  Ashby,  who*  was  now  given  the 
charge  of  covering  the  retreat — a  service  which  he  per-    > 
formed  with  great  skill  and  gallantry. 

On  the  3rd  of  June  the  army  reached  Mount  Jacks 
After  all  the  troops  had  crossed  the  bridge  over  the  Shen- 
andoah, near  the  place,  General  Ashby  was   ordered  to 
destroy  it.     He  succeeded  in  doing  so,  itic 
intheexecuti 


02  LIEUTENANT-GENES  " 

The  army  reached  Harrisonburg  early  on  the  5th  of 
June.  Leaving  the  town  behind  him,  General  Jackson 
■wheeled  to  the  left  and  marched  to  Port  Republic. 

On  the  Ctli  of  June,  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  dash 
upon  the  confederate  rear  guard,  at  a  point  between  Har- 
risonburg and  Port  Republic.  General  Ashby  called  for 
reinforcements  of  infantry,  which  were  sent  him.  A 
severe  skirmish  ensued,  and  resulted  in  the  repulse  of 
the  enemy,  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 
prisoners.  The  confederates  lost  17  killed,  GO  wounded 
and  3  missing. 

In  this  skirmish,  General  Ashby  was  killed.  He  fell 
while  leading  a  charge  upon  the  enemy,  and  died  instantly. 
He  was  a  great  loss  to  the  South,  but  especially  to  Gene- 
ral Jackson's  army.* 

General  Jackson's   army  had  now  reached  Port  Re- 
public.    Fremont's  main  column  had  arrived  in  the  n< 
borhood  of  Harrisonburg,  and   j  was  at  Conrad's 

store,  about  fifteen  miles  distant.     General  Jack 
nearly  equi-distant  from  both  of  these  columns. 

The  destruction  of  the  bridge  over  the  South  fork  of 
the   Shenandoah,   at  Conrad's   store,   having   prevented 
Shields  from  passing  the  river  at  that  point  and  ( 
a  junction  with  Fremont,  he  moved  rapidly  towards  Port 
. — ,       *_ . 

■>:"  In  his  official  report,  General  Jar  the  foil 

"  An  official  report  is  not  an  appropriate  place  for  mure  tb 
sing  notice  of  the  distinguished  dead  ;  but  the  cl< 
General  Ashby  bore  to  my  command  for  most  of  thi 
months,  will  justify  me  in  saying   that  as  a  parti.  r,  I  never 

knew  bis  superior,     His  daring  -was  proverbial;  his  powers  of  endn  • 
ranee  almost  incredible ;  his  tone  i  heroic,  and  his 

city  almost  intuitive  in  divining  the  purposes  and 
enemy."' 


THOMAS   J.  JAOKSOIT.  98 

Republic,  resolving  to  cross  the  river  thero  and  fall  upon 
Jackson. 

The  town  of  Port  Republic  is  situatud  on  a  strip  of 
land  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  North  and  South 
rivers,  which  here  empty  into  the  South  fork  of  the  Shen- 
andoah. The  North  river,  the  larger  and  deeper. of  the 
tributaries,  was  crossed  by  a  wooden  bridge,  over  which 
lay  the  road  leading  from  Harrisonburg.  The  South 
river  could  be  forded. 

General  Jackson  resolved  to  prevent  the  junction  of 
the  forces  of  Shields  and  Fremont,  and  to  offer  them  bat- 
tle separately.  In  order  to  carry  out  this  plan,  he  divi- 
ded his  forces.  General  Ewell  was  posted  about  four 
miles  distant  on  the  road  leading  tor  Harrisonburg,  while 
the  remainder  of  the  army  was  encamped  on  some  high 
ground  beyond  the  village,  about  a  mile  from  the  river. 
Ewell  was  to  check  Fremont,  while  Jackson  would  attend 
to  Shields. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  June,  the  scouts  who  had 
been  sent   out  the  night  before   to  gather  information 
respecting  Shields'  movements,  came  in  and  reported  that 
the  enemy  would  be  in  sight  in  a  short  time.     Taliafer 
and  Winder's  brigade  re  ordered  to  take  positions 

immediately  north  of  the  bridge. 

The  yankce  cavalry  and  artillery  now  came   in  sight, 
and  after  firing  several  shots  at  the  bridge,  crossed  S 
river,  and  dashing  into  the  village,  d  one  of  their 

pieces  at  the  southern  end  of  the  bridge. 

General  Jackson  had   crossed  the   r  i  id  was  in 

Port  Republic  when   the  enemy  occupied  it.     Upon  re- 
turning to  the  bridge,  he  found  the  enenr 
of  the  southern  en  th  a  pii 


94  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

ted  so  as  to  sweep  it.  Nothing  daunted  by  this  unpleas- 
ant discovery,  General  Jackson  rode  up  boldly  to  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  gun,  and  demanded  sternly: 

"  Who  told  you  to  place  this  gun  here,  sir  !  Remove 
it  and  place  it  on  yonder  hill !" 

As  he  spoke,  he  pointed  to  an  eminence  some  distance 
off.  The  officer  bowed,  limbered  up  his  piece  and  pre- 
pared to  move  away.  When  he  had  started,  General 
Jackson  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  galloped  across  the 
bridge. 

The  federal  officer  now  saw  the  trick,  and  hastily  un- 
limbering  his  gun,  sent  a  shower  of  grape  after  General 
Jackson,  which,  however,  passed  harmlessly  over  his 
head. 

Upon  reaching  his  command,  General  Jackson  sent 
General  Taliaferro's  brigade  to  charge  the  piece  and  oc- 
cupy the  town.  Poague's  battery  was  opened  on  this 
gun,  which  was  subsequently  captured  by  the  37th  Vir- 
ginia. General  Taliaferro  then  crossed  his  brigade,  drove 
out  the  federal  cavalry  and  occupied  the  town.  A  second 
piece  of  artillery  was  then  taken  from  the  federals.  A 
column  of  infantry  now  made  its  appearance  on  the  road 
by  whicli  the  cavalry  had  advanced,  but  was  soon  driven 
back  by  the  fire  of  the  confederate  batteries.  It  was 
pursued  for  a  mile  by  the  Southern  artillery  on  the  op- 
posite bank,  and  forced  to  seek  shelter  in  the  woods. 
General  Jackson  held  his  position  all  day,  expecting 
Shields  to  renew  the  attack,  but  that  officer  remained 
quiet. 

In  the  meanwhile  General  Ewcll  had  taken  position  at 
Cross  Keys,  about  five  miles  from  Port  Republic.  His 
line  was  formed  on  a  ridge  conmiandb  country  in 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  95 

front  of  it,  which  was  open.  Bodies  of  woods  were  on 
both  flanks.  The  road  from  Harrisonburg  to  Port  Re- 
public passed  through  his  line  near  its  centre.  Trimble's 
brigade,  posted  a  little  in  advance  of  the  centre,  held  the 
right,  Stewart's  brigade  the  left,  and  Brockenborough's, 
Courtney's,  Lusk's  and  Bains'  batteries  were  placed  in 
the  centre.  Elzcy's  brigade  was  posted  in  the  rear  of 
the  centre,  in  order  to  support  cither  of  the  wings,  both 
of  which  were  in  the  woods. 

The  15th  Alabama  had  been  thrown  forward  about  a 
mile,  and  were  attacked  by  Fremont's  forces  just  after 
the  movement  of  Shields  had  been  checked  near  Port 
Bepublic.  The  gallant  resistance  made  by  this  regiment, 
enabled  General  Ewell  to  form  his  line  of  battle. 

The  battle  of  Cross  Keys  was  opened  about  ten  o'clock 
by  the  enemy's  skirmishers.  In  a  short  time  the  federal 
artillery  took  position  opposite  the  confederate  batteries, 
and  a  brisk  artillery  engagement  ensued,  lasting  for  sev- 
eral hours. 

Fremont  now  threw  forward  a  brigade,  under  cover,  to 
turn  the  right  flank  of  the  confederates.  This  force  was 
driven  back  in  handsome  style  by  the  troops  of  General 
Trimble.  A  federal  battery  was  placed  in  front  of  Gen- 
eral Trimble,  and  about  half  a  mile  distant.  That  officer 
had  been  reinforced  by  the  13th  and  25th  Virginia  regi- 
ments of  Elzey's  brigade,  and  he  at  once  moved  towards 
the  enemy  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  battery.  It 
was  withdrawn  before  he  reached  it,  but  he  succeeded  in 
driving  back  its  infantry  support,  and  occupying  a  posi- 
tion a  mile  in  advance  of  his  original  line.  The  enemy 
retired  to  the  position  held  by  them  early  in  the  morning. 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Ewell  v 


LI  • 

reinforced  by  Taylor's  brigade,  the  42nd  and  48th 

the  1st  battalion  of  Virginia  regulars.     Tay- 
held  in  reserve,  and  the  other  reinforce- 
ments and  Elzey's  brigade,  (with  the  exception  of  the 
two  regiments  which  bad  been  sent  to  General  Trimble,) 
placed  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left. 

It  was  reported  about  this  time  that  the  enemy  were 
advancing  in  heavy  force  upon  the.  left,  and  General 
Ewell  prepared  to  resist  their  attack.  The  report  proved 
false,  and  General  Ewell  advanced  his  lines  ;  and  when 
night  closed  the  struggle,  Fremont  had  been  driven  back 
two  miles,  and  the  confederates  held  the  ground  origi- 
nally occupied  by  the  enemy. 

After  nightfall,  General  Jackson  withdrew  General 
Swell's  troops  and  reunited  them  with  the  rest  of  the 
army.  He  left  General  Trimble's  brigade,  supported  by 
the  42nd  Virginia  and  the  1st  battalion  of  Virginia  rcgu- 
under  Colonel  Patton,  in  Fremont's  front,  with  orders 
to  hold  him  in  check  as  long  as  possible,  and  then  to 
fall  back  across  North  river,  and  burn  the  bridge  after 
them. 

During  the  night,  General  Fremont  massed  his  troops 
before  Cross  Keys,  and  the  next  morning,  as  soon  as  the 
sound  of  cannon  in  his  front  told  him  that  Jackson  had 
fallen  upon  Shields,  marched  to  his  assistance.  General 
Trimble's  little  force  fell  back  before  him,  skirmishing  all 

d  by  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  had  ere 
the  river  and  destroyed  the  brid. 

About  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  Oth  of  June,  Gen- 
Winder's  brigade   passed  through  Port  Republic, 
:   the   South  fork  of  the  Shenandoah  on  a  tempo- 

unk  in  the  stream, 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  07 

moved  down  the  road  alone;  the  bank  of  the  river  to  at- 
tack  the  enemy. 

General  Shields  had  formed  his  line  of  battle  about  a 
mile  and  three-quarters  below  Port  Republic.  His  posi- 
tion was  well  chosen.  His  right  rested  upon  the  river, 
and  his  line  extended  for  about  half  a  mile  over  an  open 
wheat  field.  His  left  rested  upon  the  point  of  a  low 
o  that  skirted  the  field  at  that  side,  and  was  partially 
protected  by  a  copse  of  woods.  Upon  this  ridge  he  had 
posted  a  battery  of  six  pieces,  which  commanded  the 
river  road  and  the  plain  across  which  the  Southern  troops 
had  to  advance  to  attack  him;  and  upon  some  slight  emi- 
nences in  the  river  bottom  he  had  planted  two  or  three 
additional  pieces.  The  position  was  admirably  suited  for 
defence,  while  the  country  in  which  General  Jackson  had 
to  operate,  was  by  no  means  favorable  to  him. 

About  a  mile  and  a  half  below  Port  Republic,  General 
Winder  drove  in  the  federal  pickets  and  began  the  en- 
gagement. The  enemy  opened  upon  him  with  a  sharp 
fire  of  shell,  causing  him  to  suffer  severely.  Prague's 
two  Parrott  guns  were  posted  on  the  left  of  the  road  for 
the  purpose  of  silencing  the  federal  batteries.  It  being 
impossible  to  move  Carpenter's  battery  to  the  right, 
through  the  tangled  undergrowth,  a  part  of  it  was  placed 
in  position  near  the  Parrott  guns. 

General  Winder  having  been  reinforced  by  the  7th 
Louisiana,  and  being  unable  to  silence  the  federal  battery 
by  his  artillery,  resolved  to  charge  it  and  capture  it. 
Accordingly  lie  threw  forward  his  brigade.  It  advanced 
gallantly,  but  was  received  by  the  enemy  with  such  a 
withering  fire  from  their  battery  and  infantry,  that  it 
to  fall  rivel  federals 


98  li 

now  advanced,  and  driving  back  the  infantry  supports, 
forced  the  Southern  batteries  to  retire,  and  captured  a 
six-pounder  gun  belonging  to  Poague's  battery.  General 
Ewcll  now  threw  the  58th  and  44th  Virginia  under  Colo- 
nel Scott,  upon  their  flank,  and  checked  their  advance. 

It  was  a  critical   moment.     ~,  "s    command    was 

largely  outnumbered,  and  was  in  danger  of  being  over- 
whelmed. At  this  moment  the  en  ire  startled  by  a 
new  danger  to  themselves,  and  forced  to  turn  their  atten- 
tion to  another  part  of  the  field. 

Some  time  before  this,  seeing  the  danger  that  threat- 
ened Winder,  General  Jackson  turned  to  General  Taylor, 
and  asked,  pointing  to  the  federal  gui 

"  Can  you  take  that  battery  ?  It  must  be  taken,  or 
the  day  be  lost!" 

"We  can,"  replied  Taylor;  and  pointing  his  sword  to 
the  battery,  he  cried  to  his  men,  "Lou  ans,  can  you 

take  that  battery?" 

A  cheer  answered  him. 

"Bbrward!"    he   cried.      "Char  battery   and 

take  it!" 

In  order  to  reach  the  battery,  Taylor  moved  through 
the  woods  that  lined  the  ridge  on  the  federal  left.  He 
moved  rapidly  ever  a  rugged  country  and  through  a 
dense  forest,  and  emerging  from  the  woods  just  as  the 
federals  were  forcing  Winder  towards  the  river,  charged 
the  battery  in  the  face  of  a  terrific  fire  and  captured  it. 

The  federals  threw  a  heavy  force  upon  Taylor,  who 
was  assailing  their  left  and  rear,  and  a  desperate  struggle 
ensued  for  the  possession  of  the  battery.  It  was  retaken 
three  times  by  the  enemy,  and  as  often  captured  again  by 
the  confederates.     The  enemy  made  desperate  efforts  to 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  99 

turn  Taylor's  flank,  and  opened  on  him  a  perfect  shower 
of  canister  from  a  piece  which  had  been  rapidly  brought 
into  position  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  distant. 

Taylor  fell  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  from  which 
he  had  emerged,  and  here  the  federals  succeeded  in  re- 
capturing and  carrying  off  one  piece  of  the  battery  taken 
by  Taylor,  leaving  the  limber  and  caisson  behind. 

General  Shields  now  abandoned  his  movement  upon 
"Winder,  and  bent  every  energy  to  destroy  Taylor. 

General  Winder  succeeded  in  rallying  his  command,  and 
once  more  advanced  upon  the  federals,  who  were  trying 
to  surround  Taylor  in  the  woods,  league's  battery  was 
placed  in  its  former  position,  and  opened  upon  them  ; 
Chew's  battery,  which  had  just  come  up,  was  assigned  a 
position,  and  its  fire  opened  on  the  enemy.  Portions  of 
Courtney's,  Brockenborough's  and  Rains'  batteries  arri- 
ving afterwards,  were  placed  in  position  and  opened  on 
the  enemy.  The  44th  and  58th  Virginia  were  sent  to 
reinforce  Taylor,  who,  upon  their  arrival,  advanced  his 
command  upon  the  enemy,  now  suffering  severely  from 
the  heavy  fire  of  the  Southern  batteries,  and  forced  thejm 
to  fall  back.  Another  charge,  and  the  enemy  broke  and 
iled  in  confusion,  leaving  a  number  of  their  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field. 

General  Taliaferro's  brigade  had  been  left  to  hold  the 

town  of  Tort  Republic,  and  secure   the   safe  passage  of 

North  river   by   General   Trimble's    commands.      After 

tble    cr  the  river,  led  in  the  town. 

The.  d  red  to  join  General  J 

:  back  on  the  federal  right,  and" 
in  their 
Giro  into  the  flyittg 


100  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

mass,  joined  in  the  pursuit,  which  was  conducted  by  this 
brigade  and  that  of  General  Winder,  for  five  miles. 
The  enemy  retreated  in  the  direction  of  Luray.  The 
cavalry,  under  Colonel  Munford,  and  some  artillery,  pur- 
sued them  three  miles  further.  In  their  retreat,  the 
enemy  lost  450  prisoners,  800  muskets,  a  number  of 
wagons  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  which  had  been  aban- 
doned. About  275  wounded  federals  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  confederates,  and  were  paroled  in  the  hospitals 
near  Port  Republic. 

Fremont  had  been  moving- rapidly  to  Shields'  assist- 
ance. He  appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  South 
fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  as  the  routed  federals  were 
flying  from  the  field.  Being  unable  to  cross  to  their  as- 
sistance, be  revenged  himself  by  shelling  the  confederates 
who  were  on  the  field  removing  the  wounded  and  burying 
the  dead  of  both  armies.  He  remained  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Port  Republic  until  the  10th  of  June,  when  he 
drew  off  his  army  and  retreated  rapidly  down  the  Valley. 

On  the  12th,  the  cavalry  under  Colonel  Munford,  sent 
out  to  ascertain  Fremont's  position,  entered  Harrison- 
burg, capturing  a  quantity  of  stores  and  camp  equipage, 
about  200  small  arms,  and  200  wounded  men  belonging 
to  Fremont's  army,  who  were  paroled. 

The  confederate  loss  in  the  battles  of  Cross  Keys  and 
Port  Republic  was  1,026  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
and  one  piece  of  artillery.  The  federal  loss  is  not  accu- 
rately known.  It  was  about  2,000  or  2,500  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  with 
caissons  and  limbers,  and  1,000  small  arms. 

The  war  department  at  Richmond  received  from  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  the  following  announcement  of  his  victory: 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  101 

Tort  Republic,  June  9th.  \ 
Via  Staunton,  June  10th,  1862.      J 

To  S.  Cooper,  Adjuiani-gencral : 

Through  God's  blessing,  the  enemy,  near  Port  Republic,  was 
this  day  routed  with  the  loss  of  six  pieces  of  his  artillery. 

T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-general. 

Shields,  after  his  defeat,  retreated  rapidly  towards  Lu- 
ray,  and  Fremont  fell  back  to  Mount  Jackson  and  began  to 
fortify  his  position,  being  in  hourly  expectation  of  an 
advance  by  Jackson. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  General  Jackson  again  -crossed 

South  river  and  marched  to  the  neighborhood  of  Wcyer's 

cave.     "  On  the  14th,  divine  service  was   held   in   the 

.army,"  and  thanks  returned  to  God  for  the  success  that 

had  crowned  the  confederate  arms. 

The  Valley  campaign — beginning  with  the  advance  of 
Banks  upon  Winchester,  on  the  11th  of  March,  and  end- 
ing with  the  crushing  defeat  of  Shields  at  Port  Republic — 
was  closed.  It  had  been  one  of  extraordinary  vigor 
and  brilliancy.  In  the  brief  space  of  three  months 
through  which  it  extended,  hundreds  of  miles  had  been 
marched — three  separate  armies  intended  for  thc/lostruc- 
tion  of  the  little  band  of  heroes,  routed — the  colossal 
plans  of  the  enemy  for  the  subjugation  of  Virginia  over- 
thrown, and  the  record  of  Southern  prowess  brightened 
by  the  names  of  Kcrnstown,  McDowell,  Front  Royal, 
Strasburg,  Mid  n,  Winchester,  Charlestown,  Cross 

i  and  Port  Republic. 

Let  us  glance  at  the  leading  features  of  the  campaij 

The  army  fell  back  from  Winchester  on  the  11th  of 
]i,  and  retired  as  far  as  Mount  Jackson,  and  then, 
tly  retracing  ite  steps,  fought  the   battle  of  K«.  ■ 


102  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

town  on  the  23d.  Retiring  again  to  Mount  Jackson,  it 
rested  for  a  brief  period  until,  upon  the  enemy's  advance 
up  the  Valley,  it  retired  to  the.  neighborhood  of  Swift 
run  gap.  On  the  7th  of  May  it  swept  over  the  moun- 
tains, fell  upon  Fremont's  advance  and  drove  it  back 
in  confusion.  Then  bearing  eastward,  it  returned  to 
the  Valley,  and  falling  suddenly  upon  General  Banks, 
routed  his  army  and  drove  it  out  of  Virginia,  capturing 
and  immense  amount  of  spoils  and  over  three  thousand 
prisoners.  Then  by  a  retrograde  movement,  the  celerity 
of  which  seems  almost  superhuman,  it  returned  to  the 
upper  Shenandoah,  baffling  the  efforts  of  the  federal 
commanders,  and  defeating  with  heavy  losses,  the  very 
forces  sent  to  capture  it.  In  thirty-two  days  it  had 
marched  nearly  four  hundred  miles,  skirmishing  almost 
daily,  fought  five  battles,  defeated  three  armies,  two  of 
which  were  completely  routed,  captured  about  twenty 
pieces  of  artillery,  some  four  thousand  prisoners,  and 
immense  quantities  of  stores  of  all  kinds,  and  had  done 
all  this  with  a  loss  of  less  than  one  thousand  men  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  Surely  a  more  brilliant  record 
cannot  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  world ;  and  General 
Jackson  might  well  say  this  was  accomplished  "  through 
God's  blessing;." 

The  campaign  was  planned  and  executed  by  General 
Jackson,  and  must  constitute  the  real  test  of  his  gene- 
ralship. He  struck  at  the  enemy  boldly,  vigorously 
successfully.  Sweeping  them  before  him  with  irresistible 
force,  ho  placed  his  command  in  a  position  in  which  the 
federals  thought  it  easy  to  annihilate  it.  Two  strong 
columns  were  hurled  upon  him,  ,'eat  hope  of  crush- 

ing him.     lie  moved  rapid!  o,  and  when  he 


TJI'  !Otf. 

reached  his  mountain  lair,  turned  fiercely  upon  them  and 
drove  both  down  the  Valley  with  the  fury  of  a  lion  at 
hay.  Every  plan  of  the  enemy  was  defeated,  their  most 
secret  devices  penetrated  and  foiled,  and  just  at  the  mo- 
ment when  they  thought  their  success  complete,  they 
Were  hurled  from  the  path  of  the  great  commander, 
stunned  by  the  force  of  the  blow.  We  can  compare  this 
rign  with  but  one  other — Napoleon's  fii  paign 

in  Italy.  Indeed,  if,  in  this  comparison,  we  remember 
that  the  army  of  Italy  was  composed  of  regular  troo] 
enured  to  the  hardships  and  fatigues  of  Avar,  and  that 
Jackson's  men  were  volunteers,  some  of  whom  had  never 
seen  service,  and  all  of  whom  had  to  learn  the  art  of  war, 
we  shall  find  the  comparison  not  unfair,  and  the  com- 
mander of  the  glorious  army  of  the  "  .rill  not  sufi 

by  it.* 

General  Jackson  had  not  only  beaten  his  enemies ;  he 
1  done  more — he  had  conquered  public  opinion,  and 
fought  his  way  into  the  affections  of  his  countrymen. 
When  he  took  command  in  the  Valley,  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  he  was  comparatively  unknown,  or  known  simply 
as  a  major-general  commanding  a  portion  of  the -co 
rate  army.  He  was  severely  censured  for  his  Bath  and 
Romney  expedition,  declared  by  numerous  home-made 
military  critics,  a  rash,  blundering  blockhead,  and  the 
great  mass  of  the  people  began  to  doubt  whether  he  was 
the  proper  person  to  be  entrusted  with  such  an  important 
command.     The  people  of  the   South  were  not  less  sur- 

*  The  late  Colonel  Orozet,  who  had  served  under  the  great  Napo- 
leon, was  once  asked  if  Jackson's  movements  did  not  remind  him  of 
the  emperor's.  "Sir!"'  exclaimed  the  old  man  with  enthusiasm, 
<'  ihcy  arc  extra  Xui'olcuh. 


104  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

prised  tlmn  were  the  enemy,  by  the  suddenness  and  bril- 
liancy of  the  movement  upon  Kernstown,  and  began  to 
♦see  a  probability  that  Jackson  might  be  a  very  good  sol- 
dier after  all.  The  news  from  McDowell  had  scarcely 
been  realized,  when  it  was  followed  by  the  bulletins  an- 
nouncing the  success  of  the  expedition  against  Banks. 
General  Jackson  now  appeared  in  a  new  light,  and  when 
the  story  of  the  march  up  the  Valley  and  the  battles  of 
Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic  was  told,  he  stood  fore- 
most among  the  heroes  of  the  war.  The  people  were 
surprised,  delighted,  fascinated.  There  was  about  the 
exploits  of  Jackson  so  much  splendor  and  attraction, 
that  they  could  not  fail  to  attract  the  hearts  and  take 
captive  the  imaginations  of  the  public.  His  deeds  were 
full  of  romance  and  chivalry,  and  high  above  them  all 
shone  out  the  pure  and  beautiful  character  of  the  man. 
The  people  were  astonished,  but  it  was  because  they 
had  not  known  General  Jackson.  He  exhibited  no  new 
trait  to  cause  all  their  admiration.  The  young  artille- 
rist, pacing  calmly  before  his  guns  in  Mexico,  to  show 
his,  men  that  the  enemy  could  not  hurt  him,  and  then 
pushing  forward  stubbornly,  sweeping  the  enemy  before 
him — the  quiet  professor,  whose  earnestness,  firmness  and 
rigid  discipline  were  the  wonder  and  amusement  of  his 
pupils — the  calm,  undismayed  brigadier,  whose  only  rem- 
edy for  the  danger  of  defeat  was  the  bayonet — the  deter- 
mined, taciturn  major-general  who  led  the  march  to  Bath 
and  filled  his  hospitals  with  his  sick — the  rapid  marcher 
who  fell  upon  Shields  at  Kernstown — the  commander  of 
an  army  who  freed  the  Valley  from  the  enemy — the  skil- 
ful strategist,  who  baffled  the  schemes  of  his  foes  and 
crushed  them  at  the  very  m<  i  .....  they  thought  him  in 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  105 

their  power — all  these  were  but  the  various  developments 
of  the  character  of  one  man — the  glorious  hero,  whose 
name  was  now  on  every  tongue — and  in  every  aspect 
in  which  that  character  had  presented  itself,  might  be 
seen  the  same  striking  features — the  marks  that  dis- 
tinguished him  from  other  men.  Those  who  knew  him 
intimately,  were  not  surprised  at  his  success.  They  had 
been  expecting  it.  When  the  war  began,  one  man  had 
the  wisdom  and  courage  to  recommend  Jackson  to  the 
governor  of  Virginia,  as  the  best  man  to  be  given  the 
command  of  the  state  troops,  and  it  was  fortunate  that 
the  recommendation  was  heeded. 

Having  taken  hold  of  the  popular  affection,  General 
Jackson  was  not  very  fairly  treated.  The  popular  idea 
of  his  personal  appearance  was  not  in  accordance  with 
the  reality,  and  many  extravagant  pictures  of  him  were 
drawn  by  various  persons. 

Captain  Cooke,  in  his  biography  of  him,  presents  the 
most  truthful  sketch  I  have  yet  seen,  and  I  Cannot  refrain 
from  introducing  it  here.     It  is  as  follows : 

"  The  outward  appearance  of  the  famous  leader  was 
not  imposing.  ***** 

He  wore  an  old,  sun-embrowned  coat  of  gray  cloth,  origi- 
nally a  very  plain  one,  and  now  almost  out  at  the  elbows. 
To  call  it  sun-cmbrowncd,  however,  is  scarcely  to  convey 
an  adequate  idea  of  the  extent  of  its  discoloration.  It 
had  that  dingy  hue,  the  result  of  exposure  to  rain  and 
snow  and  scorching  sunshine,  which  is  so  unmistakc- 
able.  It  was  plain  that  the  general  had  often  stretched 
his  weary  form  upon  the  bare  ground,  and  slept  in  the 
old  coat ;  and  it  seemed  to  have  brought  away  with  it  no 
little  of  the  dust  of  the  Awley.     A  holiday  soldier  would 

14 


106  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

have  disdained  to  wear  such  a  garment ;  but  the  men  of 
the  old  Stonewall  brigade,  with  their  brave  comrades  of 
the  corps,  loved  that  coat  and  admired  it  and  its  owner 
more  than  all  the  holiday  uniforms  and  holiday  warriors 
in  the  world.  The  remainder  of  the  general's  costume 
was  as  much  discolored  as  the  coat ;  he  wore  cavalry  boots 
reaching  to  the  knee,  and  his  head  was  surmounted  by 
an  old  cap  more  faded  than  all ;  the  sun  had  turned  it 
quite  yellow,  indeed,  and  it  tilted  so  far  over  the  wearer's 
forehead,  that  he  was  compelled  to  raise  his  chin  in  the 
air,  in  order  to  look  under  the  rim.  His  horse  was  not  a 
"  fiery  steed,"  pawing  and  ready  to  dart  forward  at  "the 
thunder  of  the  captains  and  the  shouting,"  but  an  old 
raw-boned  sorrel,  gaunt  and  grim — a  horse  of  astonishing 
equanimity,  who  seemed  to  give  himself  no  concern  on 
any  subject,  and  calmly  moved  about,  like  his  master, 
careless  of  cannon  ball  or  bullet,  in  the  hottest  moments 
of  battle.  The  general  rode  in  a  peculiar  fashion,  lean- 
ing forward  somewhat,  and  apparently  unconscious  that 
he  was  in  the  saddle.  His  air  was  singularly  abstracted, 
and  unless  aware  of  his  identity,  no  beholder  would  have 
dreamed  that  this  plainly  clad  and  absent  looking  soldier 
was  the  idolized  leader  of  a  great  army  corps,  at  that 
very  instant  hurling  themselves,  column  after  column, 
upon  the  foe.  The  glittering  eye  beneath  the  yellow  cap 
would  have  altered  somewhat  the  impression  that  this 
man  was  "a  nobody" — that  wonderful  eye,  in  whose 
blaze  was  the  evidence  of  a  slumbering  volcano ;  but  be- 
yond this,  there  was  absolutely  nothing  in  the  appear- 
ance of  General  Jackson  to  indicate  his  great  rank  or 
genius  as  a  soldier." 

General  Jackson's  habits  9md  mode  of  life  were  wry 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  107 

simple.  He  lived  very  plainly,  never  asking  for  anything 
his  men  could  not  share,  unless  it  was  necessary  to  him. 
He  had  hut  one  tent,  and  that  one  no  better  than  if  it 
had  belonged  to  the  humblest  private  in  his  command. 
Often  he  was  without  it.  He  seemed  to  be  pleased  when 
he  had  left  it  behind,  and  then,  wrapping  himself  up  in 
his  blankets,  and  lying  down  on  the  ground  he  would 
sleep  as  soundly  as  if  he  were  in  a  palace.  He  made 
very  little  use  of  the  privileges  to  which  his  rank  entitled 
him.  He  believed  that  luxuries  unfitted  a  soldier  for  his 
duty. 

He  was  a  sincere  christian,  and  his  habits  were  strongly 
marked  by  his  earnest,  unaffected  piety.  He  had  a  high 
temper,  but  he  ruled  it  so  well  that  it  was  rare  for  him  to 
give  way  to  outbursts  of  passion,  and  when  he  did  so,  it 
was  only  under  some  sudden  and  powerful  provocation. 
He  was  kind  and  gentle,  very  forbearing  and  exceedingly 
charitable  towards  others. 

Captain  Cooke,  from  whose  valuable  work  Ihave  already 
quoted  at  some  length,  says  of  him  : 

"  Jackson's  habitual  temper  of  mind  was  a  gentle  and 
child-like   sweetness ;  a  simplicity  and  purity  of  heart, 
which   proved  that  he  had   indeed  become    "  as  a  little 
child"— walking  humbly  and  devoutly  before  his   God. 
Prayer  was  like  breathing  with  him— the  normal  condi- 
tion of  his  being.     Every  morning  he  read  his  bible  and 
prayed,  and  the  writer  will   not  soon  forget  the  picture 
drawn  by  one  of  his  distinguished  associates,  who  rode  to 
his  headquarters  at  daylight,  last  November,  when  the 
army  was  falling  back  to  Fredericksburg  from  the  Valley, 
and  found  him  reading  his  testament  quietly  in  his  tent' 
an  operation  which  he,  only  interrupted  to  describe,  in 


108  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

tones  of  quiet  simplicity,  his  intended  movements  to  foil 
the  enemy.  Before  sitting  down  to  table,  he  raised  both 
hands  and  said  grace.  When  he  contemplated  any  move- 
ment, his  old  servant  is  said  to  have  known  it  by  his 
u  wrestling  in  prayer"  for  many  hours  of  the  night ;  and 
on  the  battle  field  thousands  noticed  the  singular  gesture 
with  the  right  arm,  sometimes  both  arms,  raised  aloft. 
Those  who  looked  closely  at  him  at  such  moments,  saw 
his  lips  moving  in  prayer.  Like  Joshua,  he  prayed  with 
uplifted  hands  for  victory." 

And  yet  some  persons  called  Jackson  "  a  puritan." 
It  is  true  the  religious  element  of  his  character  was  one 
of  its  most  striking  features,  but  he  made  no  parade  of 
his  piety.  He  was  so  earnest,  so  simple,  that  he  was 
utterly  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  he  was  one  of  the 
brightest  lights  of  the  church  on  earth.  So  far  from 
being  a  puritan,  he  was  one  of  the  most  liberal  men  in 
matters  of  religion,  to  be  found  in  this  liberal  land.  The 
writer  of  these  pages  knew  him  while  he  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Lexington,  at  a 
time  when  religious  disputes  wTere  running  high  in  that 
little  town,  and  was  struck  with  his  true  christian  charity 
for  the  honest  convictions  of  other  parties. 

A  short  time  before  his'  death,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  in 
relation  to  the  duties  and  difficulties  of  army  chaplains' : 

"Denominational  distinctions  should  be  kept  out  of 
view — and  not  touched  upon.  And  as  a  general  rule,  I 
do  not  think  that  a  chaplain  who  would  preach  denomi- 
national sermons  should  be  in  the  army.  His  congrega- 
tion is  his  regiment,  and  is  composed  of  various  denomi- 
nations. I  would  like  to  see  no  questions  asked  in  the 
army  what  denomination  a  chaplain   belongs   to,  but  let 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  109 

the  question  be,  does  he  preach  the  gospel  ?  The  neglect 
of  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  army  may  be  seen  from 
the  fact  that  not  half  of  my  regiments  have  chaplains." 

Let  us  resume  the  narration  of  General  Jackson's 
campaigns. 

The  command  of  the  confederate  army  before  Rich- 
mond having  been  assumed  by  General  Lee,  on  the  1st  of 
June,  he  had  determined  to  attack  McClellan  as  soon  as 
possible  and  raise  the  siege  of  the  city.  Jackson  had 
drawn  the  column  of  General  McDowell  from  its  march 
to  McClcllan's  assistance,  and  it  was  necessary  to  strike 
the  enemy  before  this  column  could  be  sent  to  it  again. 

Reinforcements  from  Lee's  army  were  sent  to  General 
Jackson,  and  he  was  ordered  to  march  at  once  to  the 
Chickahominy  for  the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  struggle 
for  the  confederate  capital.  Shields  had  disappeared' 
down  the  Valley,  Fremont  was  fortifying  at  Mount  Jack- 
son, and  it  was  evident  General  Jackson  had  nothing  to 
fear  from  cither  of  them.  Leaving  General  Robertson's 
brigade  of  cavalry  and  Chew's  battery  to  cover  his  move- 
ments and  watch  the  enemy,  he  left  his  camp  near  Wey- 
er's  cave  on  the  17th  of  June,  and  began  his  march  to 
Richmond. 

The  movement  of  General  Jackson  was  very  hazardous, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  preserve  the  greatest  secrecy 
concerning  it.  The  troops  were  ordered  to  maintain  the 
strictest  silence  regarding  it.  They  were  instructed  to* 
give  no  information  to  any  one  during  the  march.  If 
questioned  as  to  their  destination,  the  names  of  their 
commanders,  or  from  what  place  they  had  come,  they 
were  to  reply:   "  I  don't  know." 

This  gave  rise  to  an  amusing  incident.     On  the  second 


110  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

day  of  the  march,  one  of  the  men-  belonging  to  Hood's 
brigade,  (which  had  been  detached  from  Lee's  army  and 
sent  to  Jackson),  left  the  ranks,  and  started  towards  a 
cherry  tree  in  a  neighboring  field.  General  Jackson, 
happening  to  be  near,  observed  this,  and  riding  up  to  the 
man,  asked : 

"  Where  are  you  going,  sir  ?" 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  the  man  coolly. 

"  To  what  command  do  you  belong  ?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"  Well !  what  state  are  you  from  ?"  asked  the  general 
in  great  astonishment. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  the  man  with  the  utmost 
gravity. 

Another  straggler  had  now  come  up,  and  General  Jack- 
son turning  to  him,  asked  in  surprise  : 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?" 

"  Why,  you  see,"  said  the  man,  "  Old  Stonewall  and 
General  Hood  issued  orders  yesterday  that  we  were  not 
to  know  anything  until  after  the  next  fight ;  and  we  are 
not  going  to  disobey  orders." 

The  general  smiled,  and  ordering  the  men  to  take  their 
places  in  the  ranks,  rode  off,  much  pleased  with  the 
fidelity  with  which  his  orders  were  executed. 

At  Gordonsville  the  troops  were  embarked  on  the  cars, 
and  conveyed  as  far  as  Frederick's  hall  in  Louisa  county. 
Leaving  the  cars  there  they  moved  across  the  country, 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  June,  reached  the 
little  village  of  Ashland  in  Hanover  county,  sixteen  miles 
from  Richmond,  driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets,  which 
were  stationed  near  that  place. 

The  federal  army  under  General  McClellan  was  lying 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  Ill 

on  the  Chickahominy  about  four  or  five  miles  below  Rich- 
mond. Its  right  wing  held  Mechanicsville,  a  little  village 
in  Hanover  county,  with  detached  portions  occupying  the 
heights  as  far  as  the  Meadow  bridges.  From  Mechan- 
icsville, its  line'  extended  along  the  north  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy,  following  the  direction  of  that  stream, 
(which  sweeps  around  Richmond  from"  west  to  east  in  a 
semi-circular  course),  to  Bottom's  bridge.  Its  right  wing 
had  been  thrown  across  the  river  near  Bottom's  bridge, 
and  was  massed  along  the  line  of  the  York  river  railroad 
as  far  as  Fair  Oaks  station.  The  federals  had  strength- 
ened their  position  by  a  series  of  most  elaborate  fortifi- 
cations, and  deemed  themselves  so  secure,  that  General 
McClcllan,  in  a  speech  to  a  portion  of  his  army,  assured 
them  that  no  troops  in  the  world  could  carry  such  works 
if  defended  by  even  a  handful  of  men. 

"When  the  enemy  crossed  the  Chickahominy  in  May, 
and  advanced  his  lines  towards  Richmond,  General  John- 
ston, then  in  command  of  the  confederate  army,  had 
dealt  them  a  terrible  blow  at  Seven  Pines,  and  forced 
them  to  halt  at  Fair  Oaks  station.  General  Johnston 
was  wounded  in  the  battle,  and  the  command  passed  to 
General  Lee. 

General  Lee  determined  to  strike  the  enemy  at  the 
earliest  moment.  His  plan  was  worthy  of  his  great 
genius.  It  was  to  turn  McClellan's  left  flank,  get  in  his 
rear,  attack  him  in  his  strong  works  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Chickahominy,  and  drive  him  from  them.  This 
would  compel  the  federal  commander  to  reunite  his  forces 
on  one  side  of  the  stream,  and  would  give  the  confede- 
rates an  opportunity  to  throw  their  entire  army  upon 
him,  defeat  him  and  raise  the  siege  of  "the  city. 


112  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

The  disposition  of  McClellan's  troops  was  highly  favor- 
able to  the  success  of  such  a  plan.  He  had  placed  the 
Chickahominy  between  his  two  wings,  and  had  by  the 
nature  of  his  line  rendered  it  impossible  for  either  wing 
to  strengthen  the  other  without  exposing  itself  to  the 
danger  of  defeat. 

So  skilfully  and  surely  laid  were  the  plans  of  General 
Lee,  that  when  the  attack  was  made,  McClellan's  defeat 
was  inevitable.  Indeed,  the  latter  was  aware  of  the  ar- 
rival of  Jackson  at  Ashland  almost  as  soon  as  the  place 
was  reached  by  the  Valley  forces,  and  on  the  25th  of 
June,  wrote  to  Secretary  Stanton — "  I  incline  to  think 
that  Jackson  ivill  attack  my  right  and  rear.  *      * 

I  shall  probably  be  attacked  to-morrow." 

This  knowledge  availed  him  nothing.  The  young  Na- 
poleon felt  that  his  sun  had  set.  Lee  held  him  with  a 
hand  of  iron.  He  saw  clearly  his  approaching  ruin,  but 
he  was  powerless  to  avert  it.  General  Lee  had  saved 
Richmond  before  a  blow  was  struck. 

To  General  Jackson,  General  Lee  assigned  the  duty  of 
turning  McClellan's  left  flank,  gaining  his  rear,  and  cut- 
ting off  his  retreat  from  the  White  House. 

General  Jackson's  command  now  comprised  the  follow- 
ing troops:  Major-general  Whiting's  division,  which  had 
been  sent  him  from  Lee's  army,  (consisting  of  General 
Hood's  and  Colonel  Law's  brigades  and  lleilly's  and 
Balthis'  batteries);  Major-general  Ewell's  division,  (con- 
sisting of  General  Elzey's,  (4th);  General  Trimble's, 
(7th),  and  Colonel  Seymour's  (8th,  Taylor's  old  brigade) 
brigades ;  the  Maryland  line ;  Colonel  Johnson  and  Brock- 
cnborough's,  Courtney's  and  Carrington's  batteries  : 
General  Jackson's   old   division,   (consisting  of  General 


THOMAS   J.  JACESON.  113 

Winder's,  (the  1st,  the  "Stonewall''');  Lieutenant-colonel 
Cunningham's,  (the  2nd) ;  Colonel  Fulkerson's,  (the  3rd),    i 
and  General  'Lawton's,  (the  4th)  brigades,,  and  Poague's, 
Carpenter's  and  Wording's  batteries. 

'With  this  force  Jackson  was  to  attack  the  enemy  in 
flank  and  rear,  while  Lee  with  the.  main -army  would  at- 
tack them  in  front. 

At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  June, 
General  Jackson  left  Ashland  and  marched  towards  Han- 
over courthouse.  .  Stuart's  cavalry  moved  in  front  of  his  ' 
column  and  protected  his  left.  Whiting's  division  was 
in  the  .advance.  The  federal  pickets  fell  back  before 
General  Jackson,  and- made  no  resistance  until  Tottapo- 
tomoi  creek  was.  reached.  This  creek  is  scarcely  more 
than  a  swamp,  and  the  banks, 'which  are  covered  with  a 
thick  woods,  are  steep  and  difficult  of  ascent.  Here  the 
federals  destroyecj  the  bridge,  and  -attempted  to  obstruct 
the  road  by  felling  trees.  A  detachment  of  skirmishers 
from  Hood's  brigade  soon  drove  the  enemy  from  their 
position,  the.  bridges  were  repaired,  the  stream  crossed, 
and  tke  march  resumed.  '  During  the  remainder  of  the 
day  tne  enemy  made  repeated,  feeble  attempts  to  impede 
the  advance  of  Jackson's  forces,  but  were  driven  steadily 
before  them. 

General.  Jackson  halted  for  the  night  at  Hundley's 
corner  'in  Hanover.  He  had  noW  turned  the  federal 
right  flank  and  gained  their  rear.-  Ho  was  in  possession 
of  a  position  which  would  enable  him  to  fall  upon  Mc- 
Clellan's  rear  at  Gold  Harbor  the  next  day,  and,  if  ne- 
cessary, he  could  cut  'oft'  the  retreat  of  the  federals  to- 
wards the  White  House. 

Early   the  next  morning  he  moved  rapidly   towards 
L5 


114  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

Cold  Harbor.  While  he  is  or?  his  march,  let  us  glance 
at  affairs  in  other  quarters  of  the  great  field. 

Brigadier-general  Branch,  on  the  afternoon  of.  the 
26th  of  June,  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  the  point 
where  the  Brook  turnpike  crosses,  that  stream,  and  dri- 
ving the  enemy's  forces  before  him,  marched  down  the 
river  to  effect  a  junction  with  Major-general  A.  P.  Hill. 

General  A.  P.  Hill  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  -the 
Meadow  bridges,  drove  the  enemy  from  their  strong 
works  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mechanicsvillej  and  opened 
a  way  for  the  passage  of  the  river  by  the  rest  of  the 
forces  of  General  Loncrstreet,  which  consisted  of  Lonsr- 
street's  old  division  and  D.  H%  Hill's  division.  The  next 
day  (June  27th)  the  federal  army  was  driven  back  to 
Gaines'  mill,  where  a  stand  was  made.  A  fierce  and 
vigorous  assault  was  made  upon  the  enemy's  strongly  en- 
trenched position  in. the  neighborhood  of  Gaines'  mill, 
and  after  a  desperate  struggle,  the  federals  were  driven 
from  the  works. 

Having  been  forced  from  his  strong  position  at  Gaines' 
mill,  General  McClellan  massed  his  troops  and  formed  a 
new  line  of  battle  at  Cold  Harbor,  intending  to  make 
there  a  last  stand  for  the  possession  of  the  north  bank  of 
the  Chickahominy. 

From  Gaines'  mill,  the  confederates  pressed  on  towards 
Cold  Harbor.  They 'had  not  been  able  to.  use  a  single 
piece  of  their  artillery  in  the  attack  upon  Gaines'  mill, 
and  were  now  advancing  without  it.  The  enemy  pre- 
sented a  formidable  appearance.  .  Their  force  comprised 
the  command's  of  McCall,  Porter  and  Sedgewick,  and 
about  thirty  pieces  of  artillery.  They  held  a  strong  po- 
sition at  Cold  Harbor,  and  were  moving  heavy  masses  of 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  115 

troops  through  the  woods  for  the  purpose  of  surrounding 
the  confederates.  The  were  -numerically  superior  to  the 
confederate  forces,  and  for  a*  moment  it  seemed  that  the 
latter  would  be  overwhelmed. 

The.  enemy's  column  approached  rapidly  through  the 
wq^ds.  In  a  short  time  the  confederates  would  be  com- 
pletely outflanked.  At  this  moment  a  sheet  of  flame 
burst  from  the  woods  before  themto  and  a  storm  of  balls 
swept  through  the  hostile  ranks.  The  enemy  paused  in 
surprise,  while  the  fatal  fire  was  hurled  upon  them  more 
fiercely  than  before. 

A  'wild  and  joyful  cry  rang  along  the  southern  lines, 
^nd  the  shout  of  "Jackson  !  Jackson  !"  was  passed  from 
^ian  to  man.  The  conjecture  was-  corcect.-  Two  or  three 
rigades  had  been  sent  on  in  advance  by  General  Jack- 
n,  and  had  arrived  upon  the  scene  of  conflict  at  this 
Tritical  moment. 

Early  in  the  morning  General  Jackson  had  taken  up 
his  line  of  march  for  Cold  Harbor,  moving  steadily  to- 
wards the  Chickahominy.  Ewell  led  the  advance,  and 
swept  the  enemy  before  him. 

Cold  Harbor  was  reached  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  just  as  .the  enemy  were  endeavoring  to  crush 
.the  column  of  General  A.  P.  Hill.  The  line  of  battle 
was  speedily  formed.  Whiting  was  on  the  right  of  the 
line ;  next  came  Jaekson's,  then  Ewell's,  and  then  D. 
H.  Hill's  division  the  last,  on  the  left.  Stuart's  cav- 
alry were  posted  to  the  left  of  Hill  and  ordered  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  retreating  towards  the  White 
House. 

The  rapid  firing  on  the  right  induced  General  Jackson 
to  suppose  that  the  confederate  force  in  that  direction 


11G  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

was  heavily  pressed  by  the  enemy,  and  he  immediately 
moved  forward  with  his  whole  corps. 

As  soon '  as  the  heavy  volleys  in  the  direction  of  the 
federal  rear  informed  General  Lee  of  the  arrival  of  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  General  Longstreet's  forces  were-  hurried 
'forward,  and  the  action  became  general.  ^ 

The  limits  of  this  work  forbid  any  further  allusion  to 
the  part  borne  by  the  other  portions  of  the  army,  and, 
for  the  future,  I  shall  be  forced  to  confine  myself  simply 
to  the  operations  of  General  Jackson's  command,  with 
but  an  occasional  reference  to  the  rest  of  the  troops. 

The  federal  line  in  -front  of  General  Jackson  was  very 
strong.  The  right  rested  on  a  ridge,  almost  parallel  to 
the  Chickahominy^and  the  left  on  a  sharp  bluff,  at  tl™ 
foot  of  which  were  a  deep  ravine  and  two  lines  of  en- 
trenchments. Several  batteries  of  artillery  were  pos™ 
on  this  bluff.  Their  front  was  protected  by  a  swam^P 
through  which  ran  a  little  creek  difficult  to' pass,  a  thick 
undergrowth,  and  a  quantity  of  felled  timber. 

General  Jackson  directed  General  D.  II.  Hill  to  carry 
the  federal  left.  Hill's  troops  passed  across  the  swamp, 
the  creek,  the  undergrowth  and  obstructions  in  front,  in 
the  face  of  a  heavy  fire,  and  gallantly  assailing  the 
enemy,  forced  them  to  fall  back  on  their  reserve.  The 
federals  made  a  stand  behind  a  fence  and.  a  ditch,  and 
posted  a  battery  so  as  to  enfilade  Hill's  line.  The  1st, 
3rd  and  20th  North  Carolina  charged  it  and  took  it,  and 
Hill,  now  supported  by  the  "  Stonewall  brigade"  under 
General  Winder,  pressed  on.  Upon  reaching  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  he  was  assailed  by  the  whole  federal  force 
in  his  front,  and  the  enemy  succeeded  in  recapturing 
their  battery.     General  Hill. held  with  stubborn  courage 


.  THOMAS   J.-  JACKSON.  Ill 

• 

the  position  he  had  gained,  and  the -.battle  went,  on  with 
increased  fury.  #  ' 

General  Ewell  was  moving  on  the  right  of .  General 
Hill.  He  surmounted  the  obstacles  in  his  way,  and 
charged  up  the  hill  with  impetuosity,  driving  the  enemy 
before  him.  Soon  after  he  reached  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
he  was  reinforced  by  Lawton's  and  Trimble's  brigades, 
and  continued  to.  press  the  enemy  heavily.  About  dusk 
he  was  compelled  to  draw  oft"  his  troops,-  having  fired 
every  round  of  ammunition  in  his  command.' 

Jackson's  old  division  was  originally  posted  on  Ewell's 
right,,  but .  its  brigades  were  sent  to  reinforce  other  parts 
of  the  line. 

.  The  Stonewall  brigade  was  marched  to  the  left  to  Gen- 
eral .  Hill's  support,  and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
battle.  It  never  wavered,  but  moved  on  steadily,  press- 
ing the  federals  back,  and  had  the  honor  of  carrying 
with  the  bayonet  the  last  position  of  the  enemy — a  point 
some  three  hundred  yards  beyond  McGce's. 
',  General  Wilcox  having- called  for  reinforcements,  the 
2nd  brigade  was  sent  to  him,  but  reached  him  too  late  to 
take  part  in  the  battle.  The  3rd  brigade  was  sent  to 
General  Whiting's  assistance,  but  reached  him  too  late. 
The  4th  brigade  was  added  to  General  Ewell's  com- 
mand. 

General  Whiting's  division  held  the  extreme  right  of 
the  line,  and  its  advance  was  greeted  by  the  enemy  with 
a  withering  fire,  but  it  pressed  forward.  Hood's  Texans, 
with  thrilling  cheers,  dashed  through  the  ravine,  and  oyer 
the  ditch  and  felled  timber,  and  drove  the  enemy  from 
their  position.  They  captured  nearly  a  thousand  pris- 
oners, inflicted  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  upon 


4 

118  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

• 

the   enemy,   and  captured .  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery. 
Their  loss  waa  1,000  men.  $ 

The  movements  of  Jackson's  divisions  -tfere  simulta- 
neous. -They  had  no  artillery  in  action  when  the  battle 
began.  Shortly  afterwards  Captain  John  Pelham  of  the 
Stuart  horse  artillery,  was  ordered  to  take  position  a 
little  beyond  Cold  Harbor  house  with  one  Blakeley  and  one 
Napoleon  gun,  and  open  upon  the  federal  batteries  for  the 
purpose  of  drawing  a  portion  of  their  fire  from  the  troops 
of  I).  H.  Hill  and  Winder.  His  position  was  very  near 
the  .federal  batteries,  whose  heavy  guns  soon  rendered  his 
Blakeley  gun  unfit  for  service,  but  lie  continued  to  hold 
his  ground  with  his  remaining  gun,  seriously  annoying 
the  enemy  by  the  steady  fire  which  he  maintained  in 
spite  of  their  efforts  to  silence  him.  Soon  afterwards 
additional  guns  were  sent  to  the  point  held  by  "the 
gallant  Pelham,"  and  an  effective. fire  opened  on  the  fed- 
i     crals,  whose  replies  became  feebler  and  less  frequent. 


The  night  was  now  setting  in,  and,-  General  Jackson 
having  ordered  the  .troops  to  "press  them  with  the  bayo- 
net," the  whole  line  charged  the  enemy,  whose  right  was 
now  seriously  weakened  by -the  heavy  fire  of  the  confede- 
rate batteries..  Hood's  and  the  "Stonewall"  brigades 
were  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  Jackson's  line,  and  drove 
every  obstacle  before  them.  The  enemy,  wavered,  and 
turning  about,  fled  in  confusion  towards  Grapevine  bridge, 
closely  pursued  by  Jackson's  men. 

General  McClellan's  army  was  routed.  Lee,  Long- 
street  and  A.  P.  Hill  had  driven  it  from  its  entrench- 
ments and  forced  it  back  to  the  position  a-t  Cold  Harbor. 
Here  McClellan  thought  he  could  repulse  any  attack 
made  upon  him,  and  formed  his  line  with  a  bright  hope 


THOMAS   J..  JACKSON.  119 

of  success.  Alas  I  for  that  hope  !  he  had  been  driven 
back-  from  Mechanicsvillc  only  to  meet  with  a  worse  de- 
feat at  the  hands  of  Jackson. 

The  battle  had  been  a  desperate  struggle,  but  the  con- 
federate victory  was  complete. 

The  enemy  crowded  along  the  bank  or*  the  Chick  - 
ahominy  in  confusion  and  dismay,  momentarily  expecting 
the  confederates  to  advance  upon  them.  The  Southern 
army  bivouaced  on  the  battle,  field,  and  General  McClel- 
lan,  having  succeeded  in  restoring  order  among  his  troops, 
withdrew  his  defeated  right  wins;,  during  the  night,  to 
the  south  bank  of  the  Chickahominy. 

It  was  now  useless  to  think  of  attempting  to  hold  his 
position  on  the  south  side,  for  such  an  effort  would  ensure 
either  the  capture  or  destruction  of  his  army.  He  Jiad 
but  one  course  to  pursue — to  seek  safety  in  flight.  Two 
routes  wcre#open  to  him;  one  down,  the  peninsula,  and 
the  other  through  the  swamps  to  the  .James  river.  The 
former  would  be  attended  with  great  danger,  as  he  might 
be  ruined  in  another  battle.  The  latter  was  more  favor- 
able to  him,  as  it  offered  him  the  means  of  eluding  in  the 
thick  swamp,  the  vigilance  of  his  pursuers.  He  chose 
the  route  to  James  river,  and  after  destroying  enormous 
quantities  of  stores  of  all  kinds,  and  reducing  his  army 
to  the  smallest  allowance  of  baggage,  began  his  retreat. 
His  route  lay  right  through  the  confederate  lines,  and 
owing  to  the  carelessness  or  inefficiency  of  the  confederate 
officer  charged  with  the  duty  of  intercepting  him,  he  wTas 
enabled  to  pass  through  in  safety.  His  retreat  was  con- 
ducted with  great  skill,  but  his  escape  was  due  to  a  blun- 
der on  the  part  of  the  confederates. 

On  the  28th,  General  Jackson  sent  General  Ewcll  with 

ft    .  .  TVgJ^ 


IEU] 


120  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

his  division  and  Stuart's  cavalry  to  Dispatch  station  on  ■ 
the  York  river  railroad.     Stuart  drove  oft*  a  yankee  force 
and  E  well's  men  destroyed. a  considerable  .portion  of  the 
railroad  and  the  telegraph  to  the-White  House. 

Having  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  not  retreated 
towards  the^Pamunkey,  General  Ewell  moved  to  Bottom's 
bridge.  The  next  day.  he t  rejoined  General  Jackson's 
command.  On  the  night  of  the  29th,  General  Jackson 
repaired  the  Grapevine  bridge,  by  which  the  federal  army 
had  retreated  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  which  they 
had  destroyed  after  them,  .and  marched  to  Savage  station 
on  the  York  river  railroad.  At  this  point  he  secured 
about  1,000  stragglers  from  the  federal  army  and  dis- 
covered the  immense  stores  abandoned  by  them.. 

pushing  on,  he  came  up  with  the  enemy  the  next  day 
at  White  Oak  swamp.  The  federals  had  crossed  the  stream, 
destroyed  the  bridge,  and  posted  a  strong  artillery  force 
and 'a  detachment  of  sharpshooters  on  the  opposite  side 
to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  stream  by  the  confeder- 
ates. General  Jackson  moved  up  a  portion  of  his  bat- 
teries and  a  brisk  fight  ensued.  The  enemy  fell  back  at 
night,  and  General  Jackson  repaired  the  bridge  aiid  con- 
tinued the  pursuit.  The  next  morning  he  was  ordered  to 
the  front  by  General  Lee.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  July  1st,  he  came  up  with  McClellan  at  Malvern 
hill.  The  federal  army  held  a  position  of  exceeding 
great  strength,  "and  their  artillery  was  massed  upon  a 
point  from- which  it  could  sweep  -every  approach  to  the 
hill.  Major-general  Magruder  attacked  the  enemy  on 
the  right,  and  General  Jackson's  corps  on  the  left  of  the 
confederate  line  in  this,  battle.  * 

Whiting  held  the  left  of  Jackson's  line,  and  D.  IT.- 


THOMAS* J.   JACKSON.  121 

Hill  the  right.  Taylor's  brigade  of  EwelFs  division, 
was  in  the  centre  in  advance  of  the  wings,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  E well's  division  was  held  in  reserve  in  the 
rear  of  this  line.  Jackson's  old  division  was  held  in  re- 
serve near  AVillis'  church. 

General  D.  II.  Hill,  thinking  that  a  general  advance 
had  been  ordered  by  General  Lee,  moved  forward  gal- 
lantly to  attack  the  almost  impregnable  position  of  the 
enemy.  He  encountered  a  stubborn  resistance  from  a 
superior  force,  and  was  compelled  *to  send  for  assistance. 
Ewell's  reserve  and  Jackson's  old  division  were  ordered 
to  him,  but  owing  to  the  approach  of  night  and  the  diffi- 
culties presented  by  the  swampy  grounds  and  thick 
woods  through  which  they  had  to  move,  did  not  reach 
•the  field  in  time  to  render  any  aid  to  Hill,  who  was  forced 
to  fall  back  with  heavy  loss.  The  federals  now  made  an 
advance  upon  Jackson's  line,  but  were  driven  back  by 
the  fire  of  Whiting's  artillery  on  the  left. 

Jackson's  men  slept  on  their  arms  in, front  of  the  fede- 
ral position.  At  daylight  the'  next  morning,  the  federal 
army  was  not  to  be  seen.  It  had  retreated  during  the 
night. 

The  attack  of  Magruder  and  Jackson  upon  Malvern 
hill,  had  inflicted  such  a  blow  upon  the  federals  and  had 
demoralized  their  forces  to  such  an  extent,  that  General 
McClellan  was  forced  to  abandon  Malvern  hill,  which  "he 
had  determined  to  hold  permanently,  not  daring  to  sub- 
ject his  army  to  another  attack  from  the  confederates, 
lest  it  should  be  utterly  ruined.  He  abandoned  the  hill 
during  the  night  and  fell  back  to  the  James  river. 

In  this  battle  General  Jackson  had  a  very  narrow  es- 
cape.    He  was  rcconnoitering  the  position- of  the  enemy, 

16 


122  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

when  a  shell  fell  and  exploded  between  the  forelegs  of 
his  horse,  fortunately  without  injuring  either  the  horse 
or  its  rider. 

The  plan  of  General  Lee,  save  in  one  or  two  instances, 
resulting  from  the  neglect  of  subordinates,  had  been  suc- 
cessfully executed.  General  Jackson  had  promptly  and 
ably  seconded  him  in  all  his  efforts,  and  the  assistance  he 
rendered  during  the  brief  but  eventful  campaign  of  the 
Chicfcahominy  was  incalculable. 

General  Jackson's  Toss  in  the  battles  before  Richmond 
was  as  follows  :  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  589  killed 
and  2,671  wounded;  at  Malvern  hill,  377  killed  and 
1,746  wounded — making  a  total  of  5,383. 

General  Jackson  was  in  favor  of  advancing  upon  Mc- 
Clellan,  and  attacking  him  in  his  new  position,  the  morn-* 
ing  after  the  -battle  of  Malvern  hill,  but  it  was  deemed 
best  by  General., Lee  to  refrain  from  further  pursuit. 
The  evidence  furnished'  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
yankee  congress  to  investigate  the  conduct  of  the  war, 
proves  beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt,  that  an  advance 
upon  McClellan  after  the  battle  of  Malvern  hill,  would 
have  been  a  death  blow  to  his  army. 

The  confederate  army  remained  in  front  of  McClellan 
until,  the  8th  of  Julv,  when  it  fell  back  nearer  to  Rich- 
mond. 

The  campaign  in  lower  Virginia  was  over,  and  General 
Jackson  and  his  glorious  army  were  now  to  pass  through 
new  scenes. 

After  being  so  completely  out-generalled  by  Jackson, 
Fremont  was  removed  from  his  command  in  the  Valley, 
and  succeeded  by  Major-general  John  Pope,  or  as  he  is 
better  known,  ■"  Proclamation  General  Pope." 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSOKl  123 

The  defeat  of  McOlellan's  army  having  put  an  end  to 
the  campaign  in  the  peninsula;  the  federal  government 
resolved  to  make  another  effort  to  capture  Richmond,  by 
advancing  General  Pope's  army  from  the  -Rappahannock 
.and  Rapidan.  General  Pope  moved  his  forces  across  the 
mountains  and  appeared  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rapi- 
dan, and  thus  began  his  celebrated  campaign  in  Virginia. 

This  General  Pope  had  held,  previous  to  his  appear- 
ance in  Virginia,  the  command  of  a  division  in  the  fede- 
ral army  under  General  Halleck,  and  had  rendered  him- 
self quite  famous  by  his  lying  propensities.  He  was  the 
same  officer  who  captured  (?)  during  the  retreat  of  Gene- 
ral Beauregard  from  Corinth,  the  ten  thousand  confede- 
rate  soldiers,  who  so  singularly  disappeared  after  their 
capture.  It  is  possible  that  this  brilliant  exploit  (?)  pro- 
cured him  the  command  of  Fremont's  army. 

From  his  "  headquarters  in  the  saddle,''  he  issued  the 
most  pompous  and  absurd  proclamations,  in  which  he  an- 
nounced that  there  would  be  no  more  'Mines  of  retreat," 
no  more  "bases  of  supplies,"  no  more  ditching  or  in- 
trenching. He  boasted,  that  in  His  previous  career,  he 
had  not  been  able  to  see  anything  but  the  "backs"  of 
his  enemies,  and  promised  his  army  a  glorious  victory 
whenever  they  should  encounter  the  "rebels."  He  at 
once  inaugurated  a  system  of  tyranny  and  oppression 
from  which  he  was  .driven  only  by  the  stern  but  tardy 
measures  of  retaliation  adopted  by  the  confederate  gov- 
ernment. The  people  and  the  country  in  which  his  army 
was  quartered,  suffered  severely  from  the  infamous  con- 
duct of  their  "Northern  brethren"  {?)  and  General  Pope 
and  his  army  will  ever  be  remembered  in  Virginia  by  the 
shame  they  won  by  their  conduct. 


124  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

It  was  necessary  to  check  the  advance  of  General  Pope? 
and  also  retain  at  Richmond  a  sufficient  number  of  troops 
to  meet  McClellan/who  was  supposed  to  be  contempla- 
ting another  movement  upon  the  capital.  General  Jack- 
son was  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  Rapidan  and  guard  the 
country  south  of  that  stream  against  the  incursions  of 
Pope's  army,  while  General  Lee  with  the  rest  of  the 
army,  remained  at  Richmond.  He  arrived.  atGordons- 
ville  on  the  19th  of  July  with  his  old  division  and  that 
of  General  Ewell.  Finding  that  his  force  was  too  small 
to  resist  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  General  Jackson 
asked  for  more  troops,  and  the  division  of  General  A.  P. 
Hill  was  sent  to  him.  . 

Pope's  army  was  assuming  a  very  threatening  atti- 
tude, and  General  Jackson  thought  it  necessary  to  attack 
it  before  it  could  receive  reinforcements.  He  was  in- 
formed that  only  a  part  of  it  was  at  Culpeper  courthouse, 
and  he  determined  to  fall  upon  it  at  once. 

He  left  Gordonsville  on  the  7th  of  August,  and  moved 
with  his  army  towards  the  Rapidan,  which  stream  he 
crossed  on  the  8th.  The  cavalry  under  General  Robert- 
son led  the  advance,  and  the  infantry  followed,  Ewell's 
diyision  being  in  front. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  General  Robertson  en- 
countered the.  federal  cavalry  beyond  the  Rapidan,  and 
drove  them  back  to  Culpeper  courthouse.  The  enemy's 
cavalry  threatened  to  cut  off  General  Jackson's  train, 
and  to  prevent  this  he  sent  General  Lawton's  brigade  to 
guard  the  wagons. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  General  Jackson  resumed  his 
march  towards  Culpeper  courthouse,  and  encountered  the 
enemy  at  a  point  eight  miles  from  that  place. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  125 

A  body  of  federal  cavalry  was  seen  on  the  right  of  the 
road  by  which  the  confederates  were  advancing,  and  was 
driven  off  by  a  battery  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Terry. 
A  battery  of  the  enemy  returned  this  fire,  and  soon  after- 
wards the  cavalry  resumed  their  original  position. 

Early's  brigade  was  now  thrown  forward  near. the  road 
to  Culpcpar  courthouse,  and  General  Ewcll  was  ordered 
to  move  with  Trimble's  and  Hays'  brigades,  farther  to 
the  right,  passing  near  the  base  of  Slaughter's  mountain. 

In  front  of  Early  was  a  hill,  which  he  soon  gained, 
driving  the  federal  cavalry  before-  him.  In  front  of  his 
new  position  was  another  hill,  upon  which  the  federal  ar- 
tillery was  posted.  The  valley  lying  between  the  two 
forces  was  open  and  rugged,  and  "consisted  of  a  cornfield 
with  a  wheat  field  to  the  left,  in  which  the  stacks  were 
still  standing.     The  opposite  hill  was  wooded. 

As  Early  reached  his  new  position,  the  enemy  opened 
on  him  with  their  artillery,  and  began  to  mass  their  cav- 
alry in  the  wheat  field  referred  to.  General  Early  moved 
his  infantry  a  little  to  the  rear,  in  order  to  screen  them 
from  the  fire  of  the  federal  artillery,  and  threw  forward 
on  his  right  and  a  little  in  advance,  four  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, which  opened  an  effective  fire  upon  the  yankce  bat- 
teries. 

General  Winder  now  came  up  with  Jackson's  division, 
and  placed  Campbell's  brigade  to  the  left,  in  the  woods, 
near  the  wheat  field,  and  Taliaferro's  brigade  parallel  to 
the  Culpeper  road,  with  Poague's,  Carpenter's  and  Cas- 
kie's  batteries  in  front  of  it.  Vender's  brigade  (the 
"  Stonewall")  was  held  in  reserve. 

General  Winder  had  just  formed  his  line,  when  he  was 
mortally  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.     The  com- 


126  lieutexant-(,km:hal 

mand  of  the  division  passed  to  Brigadier-general  Talia- 
ferro. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring,  General  Ewell 
had  gained  the  position  to  "which  he  had  been  ordered — the 
northwestern  extremity  of  Slaughter's  mountain.  He 
placed  Latimer's  Lattery  at  a  point  about  two  hundred 
feet  above  the  valley  beneath-,  and  opened  a*  heavy  fire 
upon  "the  federal  guns,  doing  them  serious  damage. 

The  artillery  duel  (in  which  nearly  all  of  Jackson's 
batteries  were  engaged)  continued  for  about  two  hours — 
the  enemv  suffering  greatly. 

About  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  enemy  ad- 
vanced his  skirmishers  and  moved  to -the  front  his  in- 
fantry, which  antil  then  had  been  hid  in  the  woods  to  the 
rear  and  left  of  his  artillery.  Another  body  of  infantry, 
hitherto  concealed  in  the  valley  by  the  rolling  country, 
advanced  towards  the  point  occupied  by  Early's  artillery, 
and  upon  which  his  right  Hank  rested. 

The  battle  between  the  infantry  once  opened,  soon  be- 
came general. 

General  A.  P.  Hill's  division  now  arrived,  and  General 
Thomas'  brigade  was  sent  to  General  Early's  assistance. 

The  attack  upon  Early's  position,  was  intended  to  cover 
an  attempt  to  turn  the  confederate  left  -flank.  A  heavy 
column  of  the  enemy  was1  hurled  upon  it,  and  succeeded 
in  driving  it  back  and  assailing  it  fiercely  in  the  roar. 
Campbell's  brigade  fell  back,  and  the  enemy  pressing  on, 
forced  Taliaferro's  brigade  and  a  portion  of  Early's 
troops* back  from  their  position.  The  artillery  of  Jack- 
son's division  being  thus  exposed,  was  withdrawn. 

General  Jackson's  army  was  now  in  great  danger  of 
being  defeated.     Dashing  to  the  left,  General  Jackson, 


THOMAS   J,  JACKSON.  127 

usually  so  calm  and  cool  under  all  circumstances,  threw 
himself  between  the  enemy  and  his  retreating  troops,  and 
in  loud  and  ringing  tones,  and  all  unmindful  of  the  ter- 
rible fire  to  which  he  was  exposed,  commanded  the  men 
"to  form  again.  Reassured  by  his  enthusiasm  and  hero- 
ism, they  rallied.  At  this  moment  the  old  "  Stonewall 
brigade"  and  Branch's  brigade  of  ilill's  division  came 
up.  Placing  himself  in  front  of  the  line,  General  Jack- 
son gave  his  brief,  stern  order:  "Press  them  with  the 
bayonet  !"  The  troops  swept  forward,  drove  the  ad- 
vancing enemy  before  them,  and  re-established  the  line  of 
battle. 

Archer's  and  Pender's  brigades  now  came  up,  and  a 
general  charge  was  ordered.  The  enemy  were  driven 
with  great  loss  across  the  valley  and  into  the  woods  be- 
yond it. . 

The  federal  commander  now  hurled  his  cavalry  upon 
Taliaferro's  brigade,  but  they  were  met  with  such  a  galling 
fire  from  this  brigade  in  front,  and  Branch's  brigade  as- 
sailed them  so  heavi-ly  on  their  flank,  that  they  wheeled 
and  fled,  having  suffered  severely. 

The  fire  of  the  confederate  batteries  had  forced  Gene- 
ral Ewell  to  remain  silent,  as  an  advance  on  his  part 
would  have  exposed  his  men  to  the  fire  of  their  friends' 
artillery.  AVhen*the  infantry  engagement  resulted  in  the 
repulse  of  the  federals,  and  he  could  move  across  the 
valley,  he  advanced  his  command  and  made  a  spirited 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  left. 

The  whole  line  was  now  pressing  heavily  upon  the 
enemy,  and  just  as  the  moon  was  rising  they  gave  way 
at  all  points  and  abandoned  the  field,  leaying  their  killed 
and  wounded  behind  them. 


128  UEUTENANT-GENERAL 

The  enemy  fell  back  to  a  thick  wood,  about  two  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  battle  field.  Being  anxious  to  reach 
Culpeper  courthouse  that  night,  General  Jackson  ad- 
vanced his  weary  troops  in  pursuit,  Hill's  division  being 
in  front.  After  a  march  of  about  a -mile  and  a  half,  the 
enemy  was  encountered. 

Pegrani's  battery,  with  Fields'  brigade  for  a. support, 
was  thrown  forward,  and  before  the  enemy  were  aware  of 
its  presence,  had  opened  a  rapid  and  effective  fire  upon 
them.  The  yankee  infantry  broke  and  fled  in  every  di- 
rection. Three  federal  batteries  were  thrown  forward 
and  opened  on  Pegram,  who  continued  gallantly  to  main- 
tain his  ground,  though  against  such  heavy  odds,  but  was 
finally  forced  to  withdraw  with  severe  loss. 

General  Jackson,  having  been  informed  of  the  arrival 
of  reinforcements  for  the  enemy,  ordered  a  halt  for  the 
night. 

The  next  morning  it  became  evident'  that  the  federal 
army  had  been  largely  reinforced,  and  General  Jackson 
concluded  not  to  advance.  He  made  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements for  defending  his  position,  and  ordered  the 
dead  to  be  buried,  the  wounded  to  be  sent  to.  the  rear,  and 
the  arms  left  on  the  field  by  the. enemy  to  be  collected. 

The  day  passed  off  very  quietly,  the  enemy  making  no 
demonstration,  and  on  the  11th  they* sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce,  asking  permission  to  bury  their  dead,  and  the  day 
was  spent  in  performing  that  duty. 

Having  accomplished  all  that  he  desired,  General  Jack- 
son, on  the  night  of  the  11th,  withdrew  his  troops  and 
retired  across  the  Rapidan.     His  army  lay  almost  within 
musket  range  of  the  enemy,  and  yet  so  skilfully  and  sue-  • 
cessfully  was  the  retreat  effected,  that  the  federals  knew 


'  THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  129 

nothing  of  it  until  the  next  morning,  when  they  found 
that  the  Southern  forces  had  disappeared. 

In  the  battle  of  Cedar  run  the  enemy  had  thirty-two 
thousand  men  engaged,  and  were  commanded  by  Gene- 
rals Pope,  McDowell,  Scigcl  and  Banks.  They  sustained 
a  bloody  defeat.  Their  loss  was  very  heavy  in  killed  and 
wounded,  and  has  been  estimated  at  from  three  to  four 
thousand.  Certainly  it  was  very  severe.  General  Gor- 
don, commanding  one  of  their  brigades,  speaks  of  his 
loss  as  follows:  "I  carried  into  action  less  than  1,500 
men.  I  lost  in  about  thirty  minutes  466  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  *  *  *  *      As  I  approached, 

the  enemy  received  me  with  a  rapid  and  destructive  fire. 
For  at  least  thirty  minutes  this  terrible  fire  continued. 
Companies  were  left  without  officers,  and  men  were  fall- 
ing in  every  direction  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  *  * 
It  was  too  evident  that  the  spot'  that  had  witnessed  the 
destruction  of  one  brigade,  would  be,  in  a  few  minutes, 
the  grave  of  mine.  I  had  lost  more  than  thirty  in  every 
hundred  of  my  command." 

General  Crawford,  another  of  their  officers,  says  in  his 
report:  "  The  whole  woods  became  one  sheet  of  fire  and 
storm  of  lead.  The  enemy's  infantry  was  crowded  into 
.the  timber,  and  into  some  underbrush  at  our  right,  and 
they  mowed  our  poor  fellows  down  like  grass.  The  over- 
whelming numbers  of  the  enemy  forced  us  .to  fall  back, 
but  only  when  not  a  field  officer  remained?' 

Surely,  if  the  rest  of  the  federal  army  suffered  in  the 
same  proportion,  the  estimate  of  its  losses  given  above  is 
very  moderate.  .  The  enemy  also  lost  about  four  hundred 
prisoners,  including  one  of  their  brigade  commanders — 
General  Prince — five  thousand   three  hundred  and  two 

17 


130  IJEUT&T  ANT-GENERAL  * 

Stand's  of  arms,  one  Napoleon  gun,  twelve  wagon  loads  of 
ammunition,  and  several  wagon  loads  of  new  clothing. 

The  confederate  force  engaged,  consisted  of  not  quite 
three  divisions.  Its  loss  was  233  killed  and  1,060  wound- 
ed— making  a  total  of  1,293  men. 

General  Jackson  sent  the  following  despatch  to  Gene-' 
ral  Lee's  adjutant-general^  announcing  his  victory  : 

Headquarters  Y alley  District,  )_ 
August  11,  6^  A.  If.  j 

Colonel : 

On  the  evening  of  the  9th  instant  God  blessed  our  arms  with 
another  victory.  The  battle  was  near  Cedar  run,  about  six  miles 
from  Culpeper  courthouse.  The  enemy,  according  to  the  statement 
of  prisoners,  consisted  of  Banks',  McDowell's  and  Siegel's  commands. 
JVe  have  over  four  hundred  prisoners,  including  Brigadier-general 
Prince.  Whilst  our  list  of  killed  is  less  than  that  of  the  enemy,  yet 
we  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  some  of  our  best  officers  and  men. 
Brigadier-general  Charles  S.  Winder  was  mortally  wounded  whilst 
ably  discharging  his  duty  at  the  head  of  his  command,  which  Was  the 
advance  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army.  We  have  collected  aboftit 
1,500  small  arms  and  other  ordnance  stores. 

I  am,  colonel,  your  ob't  serv't, 

T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-general. 
Col.  R.  H.  Chilton,  A.  A:  G. 

General  Pope  telegraphed  to  Washington  news  of^a 
"  great  victory,"  but  as  in  the  case  of  the  ten  thousand 
men  taken  from  Beauregard,  he  was  utterly  powerless  to 
show  any  proof  of  his  boasted  achievements. 

Being  satisfied  that  the  enemy  were  evacuating  their 
position  on  the  James  river,  and  that  the  army  of  Gene- 
ral McClellan  would  be  sent  to  the  assistance  of  General 
Pope,  General  Lee  no  longer  felt  any  hesitation  in  re- 
moving his  army  from  Richmond.  By  the  17th  of  Au- 
gust he  had  assembled  *  on  the  Rapidan  a  force  of  suffi- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  131 

cient  strength  to  enable  him  to  commence  operations 
against  Pope.  It  was  necessary  for  him  ho  act  with 
promptness.  The  corps  of  General  Burnsicle  had  been 
moved  up  to  Aquia  creek,  and  McClellan's  army  was 
leaving  the  James  river.  He  must  fight  Pope  before 
these  forces  could  reach  him.  The  plan  he  adopted  was 
a  bold  one,  and  would  be  attended  with  considerable  risk. 
But  the  situation  of  the  country  at  the  time  was  such  as 
to  require  boldness  and  promptness. 

With   the  bulk  of  the   army,  General  Lee  would  ad- 
vance and  engage  General  Pope  in  front  and  towards  his 
flanks,  while  General  Jackson's  corps  was  to   cross  the 
mountains,  get-  into  Pope's  rear,  and  then  marching  to 
Manassas,  seize  his  lines  of  communication  with  Wash- 
ington and  cut  off  his  supplies.     The  movement  assigned 
to  General  Jackson  was  attended  with  great  risk,  as  the 
enemy  might,  at  any  time,  by  a  rapid  change  of  position, 
cut  him  off  from  the  army  of  General  Lee,  and  derange 
the  whole  plan  of  the  campaign.     Resolving,  however,  to 
put  this  plan  into  execution,  and  feeling  assured-  that  he 
could  place  the  fullest  reliance  upon  General  Jackson's 
ability  to   execute  his  portion  of  it^General  Lee  began 
to  prepare  for  the  campaign. 

The  army  now  advanced  to  Orange  courthouse,  and 
General  Pope,  suspicious  of  danger,  retreated  across  the 
Rappahannock.  This  movement  caused  some  modifica- 
tion of  General  Lee's  plan  of  operations. 

General  Jackson  was  ordered  to  gain  Pope's  rear,  and 
cut   him   off  from   Washington,  while   General  Lee,  by 
making  a  series   of  feints  in  the   federal   command 
front,  would  draw  his  attention  from  the  movement  of 
General  Jackson. 


132  .LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

On  the  20th  of  August,  General  Jackson  crossed  the 
Rapidan  ahout  eight  miles  northeast  of  Orange  court- 
house, and  on  the  evening  of  the  21st  reached  Beverly's 
ford,  six  miles  west  of  Brandy  station  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad.  At  this  point  a  considerable  force 
of  the  enemy  occupied  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  The 
next  day  was  spent  in  skirmishing  with  them  ;  and  late 
in  the  day  the  march  was  resumed,  and  on  the  23rd  of 
August  General  Jackson  appeared  on  the  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock  at  the  little  village  of  Je'ffersonton,  oppo- 
site the  Warrenton  springs  in  Fauquier  county.  General 
Early's  brigade  was  thrown  across  the  river,  but  the 
stream  swelling  with  great  rapidity,  (owing  to  heavy  rains 
having  fallen  recently),  the  rest  of  the  troops  were  unable 
to  cross.  The  situation  of  Early  was  perilous  in  the  ex- 
treme ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  take  advantage  of  it.  The 
next  evening  the  bridge  over  the  Rappahannock,  which 
the  enemy  had  destroyed,  having  been  completed,  Gene- 
ral Ewell  crossed  over  with  Lawton's  brigade  to  Early's 
assistance.  The  federals  hurriedly  massed  large  bodies 
of  troops  at  the  springs  to  resist  the  advance  of  the  con- 
federates. During^  the  night  the  brigades  of  Early  and 
Lawton  recrossed  the  river  and  rejoined  the  main  column. 

By  his  rapid  movements  along  the  river,  General  Jack- 
son had  induced  the  enemy  to  believe  that  he  contem- 
plated a  passage  of  it  near  the  springs  :  had  perplexed 
"them  greatly  in  their  efforts  to  discover  the  true  point 
where  he  wished  to  cross  the  stream,  and  had  drawn  off 
a  large  body  of  troops  from  the  main  column.  The  di- 
vision of  General  R.  II.  Anderson,  having  coinc  up  from 
Gordonsville,  was  left  to  watch  and  amuse  the  enemy, 
who  remained  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  at  Warrenton 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  13 


oo 


springs  all  clay  on  Monday  25th.  General  Jackson,  on 
the  morning  of  the  25th,  pushed  on  up  the  river  towards 
Flint  hill,  in  the  county  of  Rappahannock..  The  enemy 
hearing  that  a  large,  force  of  confederates  'was  moving 
towards  the  mountains,  supposed  it  was  the  division  of 
General  Ewell .  making  a  demonstration  to  cover  the  re- 
treat of  Jackson,  who  was  believed  to  be  falling  back  to 
Gordonsville. 

When  the  army  had  passed  the  little  village  of  Amis- 
villc,  it  ^Yhcelcd  suddenly  to  the  right,  and  moving  rap- 
idly over  a  rugged  and  unused  road,  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock at  Hinson's  ford,  about  fifteen  miles  above  YVar- 
renton  springs.  The  passage  of  the'  stream  was  exceed- 
ingly difficult,  and  might  have  been  successfully  resisted 
by  the  enemy,  but  they  had  no  force  there.  Avoiding 
the  hills,  and  marching  across  fields  and  lanes,  the  corps 
halted  for  the  night  near  the  town  of  Salem,  in  Fauquier 
county,  a  station  on  the  Manassas  gap  railroad.  The 
army  reached  it  at  midnight,  and  was  on  the  march  again 
at  daybreak.  General  Jackson  had  now  turned  the  right 
flank  of  the  enemy,  and  was  rapidly  gaining  his  rear. 

The  next  morning,  the  26th,  the  march  was  resumed 
in  the  direction  of  Thoroughfare  gap,  where  the  Manas- 
sas gap  railroad  passes  through  the  Bull  run  mountains. 
Here  General  Jackson  expected  to  encounter  a  portion 
of  the  federal  troops.  Fortunately  this  strong  pass, 
which  a  small  force  of  brave  men  might  have  held  against 
his  whole  army,  had  been  left  unguarded,  and  there  was 
nothing  to  oppose  the  march  of  the  confederates.  Moving 
his  army  rapidly  through  the  gap,  General  Jackson  hur- 
ried on  in  the  direction  of  Gainesville,  which  he  reached 
late  in  the  day." 


134  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

General  Pope  has  declared,  in  his  official  report,  that 
he  was,  from  the  first,  fully  aware  of  all  Jackson's  move- 
ments-. If  this  be  true,  General  Pope  must  have  been 
the  greatest  simpleton  upon  record.  He  left  his  rear 
entirely  unprotected,  ainj  made  no  effort  whatever  to  re- 
sist the  progress  of  Jackson,  .which,  he  says,  was  so  well 
known  to  him,  and  so  "  carefully  noted."  A  mere  hand- 
ful of. men  could,  have  checked,  if  they  could  not  have 
rented,  Jackson's  advance  at  at  least  half  a  dozen 
points.  The  truth  is,-  however*  that  the  movements  of 
General  Jackson  were  so  rapid,  and  the  operations  of  the 
cavalry  under  General  Stuart,  between  his  corps  and  the 
enemy,  so  completely  covered  those  movements,  that 
General  Pope  was  entirely  ignorant  of  them,  until  Gene- 
ral Jackson  had  fully  gained  his  rear. 

Arriving  at  Gainesville,  the  corps  wheeled  to. the  right 
and  marched  to  Bristow  station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alex- 
andria railroad,  "which  was  reached  after  .night.  The 
small  force  and  the  military  stores.left  there  by  the  enemy 
were  captured.  Several  trains  of  cars  returning  to 
Washington  were  also  captured.  One,  •  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  by  and  telegraphed  the  alarm  from 
Manassas  to  Alexandria.  Those  coming  from  the  oppo- 
site direction  returned  and  gave  the  alarm. 

Learning  that  the  enemy  had  established  a  large  depot ' 
of  supplies  at  Manassas,  General  Jackson  ordered  Gene- 
rals Trimble  and  Stuart  to  proceed  thither  at  once  and 
occupy  the  place.  By  midnight  they  reached  Manassas, 
and  captured  the  entire  force  stationed  there.  At  Ma- 
nassas junction  the  enemy  had  established  an  immense 
depot  of  supplies.  The  confederates  captured  an  exten- 
sive bakery,  (which  was  capable  of  turning  out  15,00.0 


* 


O   • 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  18 

loaves  of  bread  daily';)  several  thousand  barrels  of  flour  ; 
large  quantities  of  corn  and  oats ;  two  thousand  barrels 
of  pork;  one  thousand  barrels  of  beef;  fifty  thousand 
pounds  of  bacon;  several  trains  of  cars  with  large  loads 
of  stores  ;  and.  ten  first  class  locomotives. 

The  next  day,  the  27th,  afto  leaving  General  Ewcll  at 
Bristow,.  General  Jackson  occupied  Manassas  with  the 
rest  of  his  Corps. 

The  federal  authorities  at  Washington,  upon  receiving 
information  of  the  capture  of  Manassas,  supposed  that  it 
had  been  done  by  a  small  force,  and  looked  upon  the 
ir  as  a  mere  raid.  A  New  Jersey  brigade,  composed 
of  five  regiments,  under  Brigadier-general  Taylor,  was 
sent  from  Alexandria  "  to  chase  the  rebels  away."  The 
brigade  left  the  car's  at  Bull  run  bridge,  about  11.  o'clock, 
on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  and  moved  rapidly  towards 
the  junction.  They  were  allowed  to  approach  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  the  fortifications  around  the  junc- 
tion, not.  having  met  with  any  enemy  save  a  line  of  skir- 
mishers, Who  retired  before  them.  As  they  came  within 
range  of  the  heavy  guns*  a  rapid  fire  was  opened  upon 
i,  driving  them  back  to  a  ridge  of  Kills,,  which  .shel- 
tered them  from  the  fatal  storm.  Throwing  forward  his 
infantry,  General  Jackson  drove  them  from  their  place 
of  refuge  back'  to  Bull  run.  Crossing  that  stream  at 
Blackburn's  ford,  they  fled-  towards  Oeiitreville,  hotly 
pursued  by  the  cavalry  and  hoi^c  artillery  of  Gen 
•  art,  which  inflicted  great  loss  upon  them.  The  pur- 
suit was  contin  yond  Centreville,  the  ping 
in  the  wildest  confusion.  The  brigade  was  almost  anni- 
hilated. General  Taylor  was  wounded,  and  so  was  nearly 
every  officer  in  his  command. 


I8G  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

General  Ilcintzelman's  corps  of  McClellari's  arbayliad 
reached  General  Pope's  lines,  and  lay  at  Rappahannock 
station,  when  news  was  received  of  the  capture  of  Bris- 
tow.  General  Heintzelman  had  been  informed  that  a 
"raid"  had  been  made  upon  the  railroad,  but  he  saga- 
ciously judged  that  the  movement  must  be  one  of  great 
magnitude,  and  at  once  advanced  with  his  whole- corps  to- 
wards Bristow.  A  sharp  engagement  ensued  late  in  the 
day,  in  which  the  enemy  were  repulsed  with  considerable 
loss,  and  forced  back  for  some  distance.  The  officer  in 
immediate  command  of  the  enemy  during  the  attack,  was 
General  Joseph  Hooker. 

Not  wishing  to  expose  his  troops  to  the  danger  of  being 
separated  when  the  enemy  should  advance  upon  him, 
General  Jackson  had  ordered  General  Ewell  to  occupy 
his  position  until  the  enemy  should  make' their  appear- 
ance, and  then  to  check  their  progress  and  rejoin  the 
main  body  of  the  corps  at  Manassas.  Having  checked 
the  advance  of  the  enemy,  General  Ewell  withdrew  his 
troops  during  the  night  and  rejoined  General  Jackson. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Lee  having  been  informed 
of  the  success  of  Jackson's  movements,  had  advanced 
with  the  remainder  of  the  army  to  his  assistance,  intend- 
ing to  throw  his  entire  force  in  the  enemy's  rear.  Long- 
street's  corps,  which  had  been  amusing  the  enemy  during 
Jackson's-  march,  now  swept  around  from  the  river  and 
marched  towards  Thoroughfare  gap. 

Startled  by  the  news  that  General  Jackson  had  gained 
his  rear,  General  Pope  awoke  to  a  sense  of  his  danger, 
and  prepared  to  meet  it.  General  Jackson  was  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  country  occupied  by  the  federal  troops, 
cut  off,  for  the  time,  from  all  assistance  from  the  army  of 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  137 

General  Lee,  and  in  danger  of  being  completely  hemmed 
in  by  the  dense  masses  of  the  enemy.  His  situation  was 
desperate,  and  to  a  commander  of  less  genius,  might  have 
been  fatal.  General  Pope  saw  this  and  resolved  to  en- 
deavor to  profit  by  it.  .  Sending  Rickett's  division  to 
occupy  and  hold  Thoroughfare  gap,  and  thus  prevent 
Jackson  from  receiving  any  assistance  or  effecting  a  re- 
treat through  it,  he  moved  up  from  Fauquier  with 'his 
army,  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  his  way  through  Jack- 
son's line,  and  recovering  his  communications  with  Wash- 
ington. •  The  federal  army  had  been  reinforced  by  a  por- 
tion of  the  troops  of  General  McClellan,  and  the  rest  of 
that  army  was  on  the  Potomac  and  on  it*  way  to  join 
Pope.  Relying  upon  his  great  strength,  General  Pope 
moved  forward  with  rapidity.  His  column  was  advan- 
cing upon  the  front  of  General  Jackson,  McClellan's 
troops  were  approaching  in  his  rear,  and  Burnside,  who 
was  advancing  from.  Fredericksburg,  was  marching  upon 
his  flank.  General  fackson's  situation  was  now  perilous 
in  the  extreme.  His  forces  did  not  consist  of  more  than 
20,000  men,  and  these  were  almost  broken  down  by  their 
extraordinary  marches,  and  his  supply  of  food  was  very 
short,  not  exceeding  rations  for  a  day  and  a  half.  His 
train  was  sixty  miles  off,  having  been  unable  to  keep  up 
with  him  in  his  advance.  The  head  of  General  Long- 
street's  column  had  only  arrived  at  the  western  extremity 
of  Thoroughfare  gap,  thirty  miles  distant,  and  between 
that  column  and  his  own  was  a  federal  force  of  90,000 
men.  The  enemy  had  occupied  the  gap,  and  it  was  by 
no  means  certain  that  General  Longstreet  would  be  able 
to  force  a  passage  through  it.  In  this  critical  situation 
General  Jackson  could  choose  between  only  two  alterna- 

18 


138  LIEUTEXANT-GENERAL 

tives :  either  to  fight  the  enemy  and  endeavor  to  hold 
them  in  check  until  General  Longstreet  could  come  up, 
or  to  retreat  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia  by  way  of  Cen- 
treville  and  Leesburg.  If  he  chose  the  former,  he  would 
have  to  encounter  the  danger  of  being  overwhelmed  and 
cut  to  pieces  before  Longstreet  could  come  up ;  if  the 
latter,  to  run  the  risk  of  having  his  retreat  intercepted 
by  the  column  which  was  approaching  from  Alexandria. 
In  either  case  his  condition  would  be  extremely  perilous. 
The  enemy  were  closing  in  upon  him,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  decide  at  once.  The  darker  the  clouds 
seemed  to  close  around  the  heroic  general,  the  more  bril- 
liantly did  his  genius  shine  out  above  them,  and  never 
was  this  more  strikingly  exemplified  than  at  this  moment. 
Without  hesitation  he  resolved  to'  meet  the  enemy  and 
resist  the  advance.  As  soon  as  General  E well's  division 
rejoined  him,  he  set  fire  to  the  depot  and  stores  captured 
at  Manassas,  and  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  Bull  run, 
the  darkness  of  the  night  covering  lUs  movements.  Upon 
reaching  Bull  run,  he  halted  .and  formed  his  line  near  the 
Sudley  church,  almost  on  the  very  spot  that  had  witnessed 
the  heroic  struggle  of  the  21st  July  1861.  'By  this  move- 
ment he  brought  his  forces  much  nearer  to  the*main  body 
of  the  enemy  under. General  Pope',  but  at  the  same  time 
shortened  the  distance  between  himself  and  General 
Longstreet.  In  this  position  he  could  fight  the  enemy 
the  next  clay,  and  if  General  Longstreet  could  be  suc- 
cessful in  forcing  a  passage  through  Thoroughfare  gap, 
he  could  fall  upon  the  enemy  and  assist  General  Jackson. 
Or  if  he  should  be  forced  to  retreat,  he  had  now  an  open 
way  by  which  he  could  move  into  the  Valley.  His  troops 
marched  all  night  over  a  rough  and  rugged  country.    The 


THOMAS    J.    JACKSON.  130 

morning  of  Thursday,  the  28th  of  July,  foimcUhcm  drawn 
up  along  the  banks  of  Bull  run,  weary  and  hungry,  and 
awaiting  the  advance  of  the  enemy.  It  seemed  that  they 
had  caught  the  spirit  of  their  leader,  for  i,n  spite  of  their 
sufferings,  they  uttered  not  a  murmur,  but  eagerly  awaited 
the  coming  conflict,  The  right  of  the  line  was  composed 
of  the  1st  division  (General  Jackson's  old  division)  under 
General  Taliaferro  ;•  the  centre  of  A.  P.  .Hill's  division, 
while  Ewcll  held  the  left ;  the  troops  facing  Manassas 
junction. 

In  order  to  reopen  his  communications  with  Washing- 
ton, it  was  necessary  for  General  Pope  to  get  his  army 
across  Bull  run  and  defeat  General  Jackson.  The  route 
he  had  chosen  for  the  retrograde  movement  of  his  army, 
was  over  the  Stone  bridge  and  the  Sudley  ford,  and  Gen- 
eral Jackson  now  occupied  a  position  directly  In  his  path. 

Earty  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  cavalry  under 
General  Stuart,  encountered  the  enemy's  cavalry  near 
Gainesville  on  the  Warrent'On  turnpike,  and  drove  them 
back.  Later  in  the  day,  the  2nd  brigade  of  the  1st  di- 
vision, under  Colonel  Bradley  Johnson,  again  repulsed 
them.  A  heavy  column,  under  Scigel  and  McDowell, 
was  now  advancing  upon  Jackson's  position,  and  a  des- 
perate encounter  was  near  at  hand.  General  Jackson  at 
once  ordered  General  Taliaferro  to  advance  with  his  di- 
vision and  attack  them.  Ewcll  and  A.  P.  Hill  were  to 
follow  him,  and  engage  the  enemy  when  they  came  up 
with  them.  General  Taliaferro  had  gone  about  three 
miles,  when  he  found  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  the 
Sudlc}^  road  and  were  advancing  upOn  him  from  the  War- 
renton  turnpike.  General  Jackson  at  once  moved  up  his 
other  divisions  and  formed  his  line  near  tlio  little  village 


140  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

of  Groveton ;  his  right  resting  above  and  near  the  vil- 
lage, and  his  left  upon  the  old  battle  field  of  Manassas. 
The  action  began  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
enemy  making  the  attack  in  several  heavy  columns.  It 
was  opened  by  an  artillery  combat  at  long  range,  but 
gradually  the  distance  between  the  two  armies  shortened, 
and  by  six  O'clock  they  were  within  easy  musket  range 
of  each  other.  A  furious  attack  was  made  upon  the  di- 
vision of  General  Taliaferro,  and  gallantly  and  success- 
fully repulsed.  Hill  and  Ewell  now  came  into  action, 
and  the  battle  became  general  along  the  whole  line.  The 
federal  troops  had  been  informed  by  their  commanders, 
that  Jackson  had  been  "  caught  in  a  complete  trap". with 
a  small  force,  and  that  it  was  only  necessary  to  make  a 
determined  effort,  to  annihilate  him.  Inspired  by  this 
thought,  they  fought  with  great  desperation.  Several 
times  they  advanced  to  force  the  Southern  lines  with:  the 
bayonet,  but  each  time  were  driven  back  with  terrific  fury. 
Night  came  on,  but  the  battle  continued  to  rage  furiously. 
Gradually  the  enemy  fell  back.  Finally  they  abandoned 
the  field,  and  by  nine  o'clock  the  battle  was  o^er,  General 
Jackson  remaining  in  undisputed  possession  of  the  field, 
having  successfully  repulsed  the  enemy  at  all  points. 

Although  the  battle  had  been  so  severe,  General  Jack- 
son's loss  was  small  in  proportion  to  that  of  the  enemy, 
being  between  800  and  1,000  killed  and  wounded.  But 
among  these  were  Generals  Trimble  and  Taliaferro,  two 
gallant  officers  wounded,  and  the  brave  old  Ewell,  whose 
presence  was  a  tower  of  strength  to  the  army,  lost  a  leg. 

The  enemy's  loss  has  never  been  accurately  ascertained, 
but  was  very  heavy. 

The  night  passed   away  in  silence,   and  the   troops, 


THOMAS  J.  JACKSON,  141 

wearied  by  fatigue  and  hunger,  spent  it  in  resting  upon 
their  arms,  awaiting  the  renewal  of  the  conflict  the  next 
clay. 

While  the  battle  was  going  on  near  Groveton,  stirring 
events  were  transpiring  in  another  direction. 

As  soon  as  General  Jackson  had  gained  Pope's  rear. 
General  Longstrcet  had  been  ordered  to  move  with  speed 
to  his  assistance.  He  reached  Thoroughfare  gap  late  on 
the  27th  of  August,  and  found  it  occupied  by  the  enemy. 

Thoroughfare  gap  is  an  abrupt  opening  in  the  range  of 
the  Bull  run  mountains.  Its  width  varies  from  one  hun- 
dred to  two  hundred  yards.  A  swift  mountain  stream 
rushes  through  the  pass,  and  along  its  bank  winds  a  rug- 
ged and  difficult  road  and  the  track  of  the  Manassas  gap 
railroad.  On  the  left  hand  the  mountains  rise  up  per- 
pendicularly, and  on  the  right  the  thick  timber  and  un- 
dergrowth render  it  impossible  for  any  but  the  most  active 
men  to  obtain  a  foothold  upon  it.  The  famous  pass  of 
Thermopylae  sinks'  into  insignificance  when  compared 
with  this  in  strength.  '  That  pass  was  turned  by  a  moun- 
tain road  ;  this  had  no  such  weak  point.  The  force  of 
the  enemy  occupying  it,  consisted  of  General  Rickett's 
division  and  several  batteries  of  artillery. 

In  spite  of  the  great  advantages  possessed  by  the 
enemy,  General  Longstreet  resolved  to  drive  them  from 
the  gap,  and  pass  his  troops  through  it.  On  the  morning 
of  the  28th,  he  moved  forward  and  engaged  them,  and 
during  the  day  succeeded  in  driving  their  entire  force 
from  the  pass.  With  the  thunder  of  the  guns  at  Grove- 
ton  ringing  in  their  ears,  the  gallant  Southerners  emerged 
from  the  gap,  on  the  eastern  side,  and  bore  away  towards 
Ma  i 


142  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

The  passage  of  Thoroughfare  gap  was  one  of  the  iflost 
brilliant  exploits  of  the  campaign,  and  reflects  the  highest 
credit  upon  the  gallant  general  and  brave  men  who  effected 
it.  It  was  accomplished  with  a  loss  of  only  three  men 
wounded. 

Upon  arriving  within  supporting  distance  of  General 
Jackson,  General  Longstreet  moved  to  the  neighborhood 
of  Sudley  church  and  took  position  on  the  left.  The 
plan  of  General  Lee  was  now  nearly  accomplished.  He 
"had  moved  his  entire'  army  around'  the  enemy  and  had 
gotten  into  their  rear.  The  army  had  endured  hardships 
and  privations  innumerable,  but  these,  so  far  from  de- 
pressing it,  had  inspired  it  with  an  enthusiasm  that  was 
irresistible. 

The  morning  of  the  29th  of  August  dawned  beauti- 
fully over  the  scenes  of  such  fearful  strife.  General 
Jackson's  corps  occupied  a  position  a  little  in  advance  of 
that  which  it  had- held  during  the  previous  evening.  All 
of  General  Longstreet's  forces  had  not  yet  come  up,  and 
his  line  was  not  completely  formed.  Later  in  the  day 
all  the  troops  were  present,  and  the  lines  fully  estab- 
lished. 

Early  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  made  a  feeble  attack 
upon  General  Ewell's  division,  and  were  quickly  repulsed 
with  great  slaughter.  The  confederate  artillery  opening 
upon  them  in  their  flight,  added  greatly  to  their  suffer- 
ings. About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Pope 
made  a  desperate  attempt  to  force  the  Southern  lines 
asunder,  and  effect  a  passage  through  them.  The  attack 
was  made  upon  the  command  of  General  Jackson,  and 
soon  afterwards  extended  along  the  whole  line.  General 
Lcc?  late  in  the  afternoon,  seeing  that  the  enemy  were 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  143 

receiving  strong  reinforc.ments,  ordered"  General  Hood 
(of  Longstreet's  corps)   to  move  with  his  division,   and 
make  a. demonstration  upon  their  right.     Hood  moved  up 
rapidly  and  soon  became  warmly  engaged  with  the  enemy, 
and  when  the  battle  closed,  had  driven  them  three-quar- 
ters  of  a  mile.     This  movement   compelled  the   federal 
commander  to  change  his  line  very  materially. 
^  Profiting  by  this  assistance,  General  Jackson  advanced 
.  his  troops  with  great  energy.     The  battle  raged  hotly  on 
both  wings  of  the  army,  and  the  enemy  fought  with  great 
vigor.     About  nine   o'clock  they  fell  back  sullenly  and 
left  the  confederate  forces  in  possession  of  the  field.      . 

Daring  the  fight  the  ammunition  of  Jackson's  men 
gave  out.  They  held  their  ground,  however,  .defending 
themselves  with  pieces  of  rock  which  lay  thickly  along 
their  position.  To  supply  their  lack  of  ammunition,  the 
cartridge  boxes  of  wounded  and  dead  friends  and  foes 
were  secured  and  emptied,  and  their,  contents  passed 
along  the  line.  .  • 

When  Hood  came  into  the  fight,  Jackson's  men  were 
being  slowly  pressed  back  by  the  overwhelming  masses 
thrown  upon  them.  Hood's  charge  gave  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  recover  thek  lost  ground,  and  they  were  quick 
to  avail  themselves  of  it. 

The  confederate  loss  was  small  in  proportion  to  the 
number  engaged  and  the  fierceness  of  the  conflict.  The 
enemy  acknowledged  a  loss  of  eight  thousand  killed  and 
wounded.  The  Northern  papers  estimated  the  losses  in 
Pope's  army,  in  the  various  conflicts  previous  to  the  29th, 
at  nine  thousand  men,  making  in  all  a  total  of  seventeen 
thousand  men. 

During  the  night,  General  Lee  ordered  the  troops  to 


144  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

fall  back  nearer  to  Manassas  plains,  intending  to  take 
position  there  and  offer  the  enemy  battle  the  next  day. 
The  night  was  spent  by  the  troops  in  occupying  the  po- 
sitions assigned  them.  They  were  greatly  in  need  of 
rest,  and  very  much,  weakened  by  abstinence  from  food, 
and  yet  in  this  weak  and  exhausted  condition,  they  were 
on  the  morrow  to  fight  the  greatest  battle  that  had  yet 
been  fought  in  America. 

The  morning  of  the  ever  memorable  30th  of  August 
came  at  last.  The  confederate  army  now  occupied  a  po- 
sition different  from  any  it  had  yet  held.  The  line  of 
battle  extended  for  over  five  miles,  and  was  in  the  form 
of  an  obtuse  crescent.  Jackson's  corps  held  the  left, 
and  his  line  extended  from  the  Sudley  ford,  on  Bull  run, 
along  the  partly  excavated  track  of  the  Manassas  inde- 
pendent line  of  railroad  for  a  portion  of  the  way,  and 
thence  towards  a  point  on  the  Warrenton  turnpike  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Groveton.  The  1st  division 
(now  comm%nded  by  General  Starke)  was  on  the  right ; 
Ewell's  division  (under  General  Lawton)  in  the  centre, 
and  A.  P.  Hill  on  the  left.  From  Jackson's  right,  ex- 
tended Longstreet's  line,  which  formed  the  right  wing  of 
the  army,  stretching  beyond  the  Manassas  gap  railroad. 
In  the  centre,  between  Jackson's  and  Longstreet's  lines, 
a  strong  force  of  artillery  was  posted  upon  an  eminence 
which  commanded  a  large  portion  of  the  field. 

The  enemy,  in  order  to  engage  General  Lee,  had  now 
to  conform  his  line  to  that  of  the  Southern  army.  Con- 
sequently the  federal  line  took  the  form  of  a  crescent, 
the  centre  (greatly  advanced)  being  at  Groveton,  and  the 
wings  inclining  obliquely  to  the  right  and  left.  General 
Heintzelman  held  the  federal  right  and  General  McDowell 


THOMAS    J.  JACKbUN.  145 

the  left,  while  the  corps  of  General  Fitz  John  Porter  and 
Scigel,  and  Reno's  division  of  Burnside's  army,  formed 
the  contrc. 

Thus  the  advantage  lay  with  General  Lee.  The  con- 
federate army  (especially  the  corps  of  General  Jackson) 
occupied  the  ground  upon  which  the  enemy  fought  the 
first  battle  of  Manassas,  and  the  federal  army  the  ground 
held  by  the  confederates  that  day— the  positions  of  the 
two  armies  on  the  21st  being  completely  reversed  on  the 
present  occasion. 

The  federal  artillery  was  posted  on  the  hills,  in  the 
rear  of  their  infantry. 

About  12  o'clock  M.  the  battle  was  opened  between 
the  artillery  of  the  two  armies— the  enemy  making  the 
attack.  The  firing  was  very  rapid,  and  was  kept  up  with 
great  spirit. 

A  little  after  two  o'clock  the  enemy  advanced  a  strong 
column  of  infantry  and   began   a  spirited  attack    upon 
General  Jackson's  line.     Advancing  under  the  cover  of 
a  heavy  fire   of  artillery  to  within  musket  range  of  the 
Southern   lines,  they  opened  a  rapid  fire,  which  was  re- 
sponded to  with  fatal  effect.     Shortly  after  this  a  second 
column  of  the  enemy,  and  then  a  third,  advanced  to  sup- 
port the   first.     Jackson's  infantry  hurled  a  deadly  fire 
upon  them,   and   unable  to   endure  it,   they  repeatedly 
broke  and  ran,  and  it  required  all  of  the  efforts  of  their 
officers  to  rally  them  again.     Jackson's  artillery  was  now 
moved  to  the  left, -and  a  destructive  fire  was  opened  upon 
the  federal  columns.     The  battle  was  going  on  hotly,  and 
the  infantry  were  doing  effective  service,  while  the  fire  of 
the  artillery  was  terrific.     Shot   and  shell  tore  through 
the  federal  ranks  at  each  discharge,  bringing  down  scores 

19 


146  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

to  the  ground,  breaking  the  line  of  the  enemy  and  throw- 
ing them  into  confusion.  The  order  was  given  to  charge, 
and  the  infantry  sweeping  down  with  great  force,  drove 
the  bewildered  foe  from  the  field  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  Thus,  in  half  an  hour,  the  forces  of  Generals 
Sykes  and  Morell,  the  most  celebrated  corps  of  the  fede- 
ral army,  were  driven  in  confusion  from  the  field  by  a 
smaller  force  of  confederates. 

General  Jackson's  line,  which,  it  will  be  remembered, 
extended  from  Bull  run  to  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  had 
been  considerably  advanced  during  this  brief  engagement. 
His  left, ■  which  had  pushed  forward  more  rapidly  than  his 
right,  had  moved  around  by  tl\e  Pittsylvania  house,  and 
was  forcing  the  enemy  towards  the  turnpike  and  driving 
them  down  upon  General  Longstreet's  position ;  thus 
clearly  demonstrating  the  wisdom  of  General  Lee's  for- 
mation of  his  line  of  battle. 

Longstreet  was  not  slow  to  perceive  his  advantage. 
His  troops  were  at  once-  thrown  forward,  and  now  the 
whole  line  was  advancing  upon  the  enemy.  The  federals 
were  being  heavily  reinforced,  and  dense  masses  of  fresh 
troops  were  rapidly  brought  into  action.  Dashing  upon 
the  exposed  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  which  was  in  front 
of  him,  General  Longstreet,  in  spite  of  this,  drove  them 
furiously  before  him.  While  Longstreet  outflanked  and 
drove  the  enemy  on  the  left,  Jackson  pressed  heavily  upon 
their  right.  The  two  wings  of  the  crescent  line  were 
gradually  drawing  nearer  together  and  enclosing » the 
enemy  between  them.  Sweeping  upon  them  in  those  ir- 
resistible charges  which  have  become  so  famous,  the  vet- 
erans of  Jackson  and  Longstreet  broke  the  federal  col- 
umns and  chased  them  from  the  field.     Dashing  on,  at 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  147 

the  head  of  his  troops,  with  his  whole  soul  glowing  with 
the  genius  of  battle,  General  Jackson  exhibited  the 
greatest  heroism.  Under  the  guidance  of  such  a  general, 
and  stimulated  by  such  an  example,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
his  troops  were  invincible. 

Long  after  darkness  the  battle  raged,  the  enemy  being 
driven  at  all  points,  and  after  nine  o'clock  they  aban- 
doned the  field  and  fled  ingloriously  across  Bull  run.  So 
rapid  was  their  flight,  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  con- 
federates to  keep  up  with  them. 

General  Pope  abandoned  his  wounded  without  making 
any  provision  for  them.  They  were  kindly  cared  for  by 
the  confederate  commander,  until  the  federals  could  attend 
to  them. 

The  enemy's  loss  in  this  second  battle  of  Manassas 
was  very  heavy.  The  confederate  loss  was  much  less, 
but  at  present  unknown  to  me.  It  has  been  said,  and  I 
am  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  assertion,  that  the 
enemy's  losses  on  the  27th,  28th,  29j:h  and  30th  of  Au- 
gust, numbered  thirty -five  thousand  men. 

A  scanty  allowance  of  food — the  first  they  had  eaten 
for  four  days,  was  issued  to  the  army  on  the  morning  of 
the  81st.     It  consisted  of  beef  without  bread. 

The  enemy  now  occupied  the  heights  of  Gentreville 
and  Germantown,  and  from  these  General  Lee  resolved 
to  dislodge  them.  General  Jackson  was  ordered  to  turn 
their,  right  flank.  He  set  out  at  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  at  night  encamped  in  Pleasant  valley,,  fifteen 
miles  from  the  battle  field.  Here,  for  the  first  time  since 
the  march  began  on  the  25th,  the  men  enjoyed  an  unbro- 
ken night's  rest,  and  here  again  they  were  compelled  to 
go  without  food.  # 


148  LT  F.  U  T  EC  X  A  NT-G  ENER  A  L 

On  the  next  day,  (September  1st),  upon  nearing  the 
federal  lines,  General  A.  P.  Hill's  division  was  attacked 
by  the  enemy,  who  wished  to  protect  the  removal  of  their 
trains  from  Centreville  to  Alexandria.  The  battle  was 
fought  at  Germantown,  a  small  village  in  Fairfax  county, 
near  the  main  road  from  Centreville  to  Fairfax  courthouse. 
The  federal  troops  having  been  rallied  by  their  comman- 
ders, marched  out  from  Centreville  and  fell  upon  Hill's 
division,  which  constituted  Jackson's  advance.  After  a 
short,  but  desperate'  fight,  they  were  routed  and  driven  in 
confusion  towards  Alexandria,  losing  many  of  their  num- 
ber and  all  of  their  artilleiy.  Generals  Kearney  and 
Stevens  were  killed — the  former  left  dead  on  the  field. 
The  confederate  loss  was  very  slight. 

In  this  brief  campaign,  the  enemy  lost  upwards  of 
thirty-five  thousand  men  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
many  millions  of  dollars  worth  of  stores  and  other  pro- 
perty, over  thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  and  many  small  arms. 
The  confederate  loss  was  about  six  thousand  men.  The 
enemy  had  been  driven  into  the  lines  of  Washington,  and 
were  now  trembling  for  the  safety  of  their  capital.  The 
campaign  had  been,  in  every  respect,  brilliant  and  suc- 
cessful. 

On  Tuesday,  2nd  of  September,  the  corps  of  General 
Longstreet  came  up,  and  the  army  for  the  first  time  en- 
joyed a  full  allowance  of  food. 

Having  driven  the  enemy  within  the  lines  of  Washing- 
ton, General  Lee  resolved  to  cross"  the  Potomac  and  enter 
Maryland.  Several  motives  have  been  attributed  to  him 
by  the  press  and  public,  as  inducing  him  to  take  this  step. 
The  principal  of  these  are — 1st,  that  he  wished  to  libe- 
rate and  ho]<J  the  state  of  Maryland,  believing  that  the 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  149 

condition  of  affairs  warranted  such  a  step.  Second,  that 
he  simply  wished  to  capture  the  column  of  federal  troops 
stationed  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Much  fruitless  discussion 
has  been  engaged  in  by  the  friends  of  these  opposite 
propositions,  and  it  may  seem  out  of  place  to  mention 
them  here,  but  for  the  completeness  of  this  narration  it 
win  be  necessary  to  refer  to  them  briefly.  This  I  shall 
do  further  on,  simply  stating  here  that  I  accept  the  lat- 
tcr^roposition  as  embodying  the  true  reason  of  General 
Lee  for  crossing  the  Potomac. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  General  Ja'ckson  moved  off 
from  Germantown  in  the  direction  of  Leesburg,  and  halted 
for  the  night  at  Drainesville.  He  reached  Leesburg  the 
next  day.  'On  Friday,  the  5th  of  September,  he  crossed 
the  Potomac,  and  took  the  way  to  Frederick  city  in 
Maryland. 

The  passage  of  the  Potomac  was  thrilling  beyond  de- 
scription. The  men  sprang  forward  with  wild  and  en- 
thusiastic cheers,  and  were  soon  over  the  river  and  upon 
the  shores  of  the  United  States.  Each  man  felt  himself 
the  avenger  of  a  wronged  and  outraged  state,  and  believed 
that  he  came  to  offer  to  a  gallant  but  enslaved  people  the 
prescious  boon  of  liberty.  Their  anticipations  were,  how- 
ever, soon  checked  by  the  very  cool  reception  with  which 
they  were  met.  They  had  believed  that  men  would  come 
crowding  into  their  ranks,  and  that  the  whole  population 
would  receive  them  with  open  arms.  They  had  entered 
the  worst  portion  of  the  state,  and  consequently  ought 
not  to  have  entertained  such  bright  hopes.  Western 
Maryland,  like  Western  Virginia,  was  too  thoroughly  at- 
tached to  the  Union  to  hail  with  delight  the  advance  of  a 
Southern  army.     It  comprised  but  a  very  small  portion 


150  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

of  the  stat'e,  and  all  persons  who  believed  then  that  Gen- 
eral Lee  desired  to  liberate  Maryland,  beheld  with  regret 
his  entrance  into  that  portion  of  it.  The  friends  of  the 
South  were,  with  a  few  exceptions,  all  east  of  Frederick 
county,  and  the  friends  of  the  Union,  in  and  west  of  it. 
The  few  Southern  men  in  the  section  occupied  by  the 
confederate  army,  not  knowing  the  nature  of  the  invasron, 
were  afraid  to  act  at  once.  To  those  who  know  how 
much  they  had  to  dread  from  the  tyranny  of  the  feffral 
government,  this  will  not  seem  strange.  ■ 

Before  reaching  Frederick  city,  General  Jackson  was 
presented  with  a  magnificent  gray  charger.  This  act, 
which  was  prompted  by  the  most  enthusiastic  admiration 
for  the  general,  came  very  near  proving  fatal  to  him,  for 
he  had  scarcely  mounted  the  horse  before  the  animal  be- 
came frightened,  threw  him,  and  came  near  breaking  his 
neck. 

On  Saturday,  the  6th  of  September,  the  army  entered 
Frederick  city.  Here  they  were  permitted  to  purchase 
such  articles  as  they  wanted,  for  confederate  money.  On 
Monday  confederate  money  was  refused,  and  the  prices 
of  articles  advanced.  The  troops  most  scrupulously 
avoided  interfering  with  the  inhabitants,  and  every  right 
they  possessed  was  most  faithfully  respected.  Persons 
of  known  hostility  to  the  South  were  treated  with  great 
kindness — the  conduct  of  the  confederate  army  being  in 
marked  contrast  with  that  of  the  federal  forces,  when  oc- 
cupying Southern  territory. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  General  Lee.  issued  his  pro- 
clamation, inviting  the  people  of  Maryland  to  rise  in  de- 
fence of  their  homes  and  liberties.  This,  however,  was 
impossible,  for  reasons  which  will  be  stated  further  on. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.      .  151 

Only  about  eight  hundred  recruits  were  obtained  during 
this  campaign. 

On  Wednesday,  the  10th  of  September,  the  army 
moved  forward  towards  Hagcrstown.  The  greatest  ex- 
citement now  prevailed  among  the  troops.  They  thought 
they-  were  advancing  into  Pennsylvania,  and  stimulated 
by  the  prospect  of  visiting  upon  the  enemy  in  his  own 
country  some  of  the  horrors  that  had  been  perpetrated 
upon  the  South,  they  pushed  on  with  the  greatest  delight. 
At  night  the  corps  of  General  Jackson  halted  at  Boons- 
boro',  on  the  national  road,  ten  miles  from  Ilagerstown, 
while  a  small  party,  of  cavalry,  for  the  purpose  of  divert- 
ing the  enemy's  attention,  made  a  raid  into  Pennsylvania. 

The  whole  North  was  now  thrown  into  a  perfect  fever 
of  excitement.  The  invasion  of  Maryland  had  filled  the 
entire  Union  with  the  greatest  surprise  and  terror,  and 
these  feelings  were  heightened  by  the  advance  of  General 
Lee  in  the  direction  of  Ilagerstown.  It  was  rumored 
that  Jackson  was  entering  Pennsylvania  by  at  least  a 
dozen  different  directions.  The  routed  forces  of  General 
Pope  had  crowded  in  confusion  into  the  lines  of  Wash- 
ington, and  mutinous  and  demoralized,  refused  to  fight 
again  under  that  general.  There  was  but  one  man  who 
could  bring  order  out  of  such  confusion,  and  that  man 
was  General  McClellan. 

Nothing  in  the  history  of  the  war  is  more  singular  than 
the  influence  possessed  by' General  McClellan  over  his 
troops*.  During  the  entire  period  in  which  he  held  the 
command  of*  the  federal  army,  he  was  never  successful  in 
any  of  his  undertakings.  He  was  defeated  in  every 
pitched  battle,  and  in  a  majority  of  the  minor  engage- 
ments;  driven  with  loss  and  in  dismay  from  the  Chicka- 


152  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

hominy  to  the  James,  and  outgeneralled  upon  every  occa- 
sion. Yet  in  spite  of  all  these  misfortunes,  the  confi- 
dence which  his  troops  reposed  in  him  never  wavered, 
and  his  influence  over  them  never  diminished.  Undoubt- 
edly he  was  the  most  skilful  commander  the  armies  of 
the  Union  could  boast  of,  but  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
contend  against  Lee,  Johnston  and  Jackson. 

The  failure  of  the  Peninsula  campaign  had  placed  Gen- 
eral McClcllan  in  bad  repute  with  his  government,  and 
it  was  with  great  reluctance  that  they  summoned  him  to 
the  command  of  the  army  again.  Yielding  to  the  neces- 
sity of  the  occasion, "they  removed  .General.  Pope  and 
placed  General  McOlellan  at  the  head  of  the  army  once 
more.  Hastily  reorganizing  the  remnants  of  Pope's 
army,  and  leaving  a  strong  force  for  the  protection  of 
Washington  city,  General  McClellan  advanced .  towards 
Frederick  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  the  army  of  Gen- 
eral'Lee.  The  skill  exhibited  by  him  in  this  movement 
won  for  him  considerable  praise  both  North  and  South. 
His  object  in  hastening  after  General  Lee  was  to  prevent 
the  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  or,  if  necessary,  to  relieve 
Harpers  Ferry,  and  by  throwing  his  army  between  that 
of  General  Lee  and  the  Potomac,  to  cut  oif  his  retreat 
into  Virginia. 

Having  resolved  upon  the  capture  of  Harpers  Ferry, 
General  Lee  began  to  put  his  plan  into  operation.  The 
approach  of  General  McClellan,  which  was  reported  to 
him,  rendered  it  necessary  to  act  with  great  promptness. 
The  army  was  divided  into  three  portions — Jackson's  and 
Longstreet's  corps,  and  a  strong  force  under  Major-gene- 
ral D.  H.  Hill.  The  column  of  General  D.  H.  Hill  was 
to  occupy  the  passes  of  the   South  mountain  and  hold 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  153 

McClellan  in  check,  while  Jackson  would  recross  the  Po- 
tomac and  capture  Harpers  Ferry.  The  corps  of  General 
Longstreet  would  remain  within  supporting  distance  of 
both  .Jackson  and  Hill,  and  render  assistance  to  either 
as  necessity  might  require. 

On  Thursday  morning  (the  11th  September)  the  corps 
of  General  Jackson  left  Boonsboro'  and  continued  to  ad- 
vance in  the  direction  of  Hagerstown.  Upon  reaching 
a  point  about  a  mile  beyond  Boonsboro'  it  suddenly 
wheeled  to  the  left  and  'marched  to  the  Potomac,  which 
was  crossed  at  Williamsport.  On  the  12th,  the  corps 
entered  Martinsburg.  The  federal  forces  Stationed  there 
had  retired  to  Harpers  Ferry,  upon  hearing  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  confederate*.  After  halting  for  a  few 
hours  to  refresh  his  men,  General  Jackson  hurried  on  in 
the  direction  of  Harpers  Ferry,  and  at  noon  on  the  13th, 
encamped  about  throe  miles  from  that  place. 

While  the  corps  of  General  Jackson  was  to  attack 
Harpers  Ferry  from  the  direction  of  Bolivar,  the  division 
of  General  McLaws  was  to  occupy  the%laryland  heights, 
and  General  Walker's  forces  to  hold  those  on  the  Lou- 
doun side  of  "the  Shenandoah,  thus  completely  hemming 
in  the  federal  forces. 

As  soon  as  he  reached  the  point  at  which  he  halted, 
General  Jackson  signalled  the  heights  opposite  him  in 
order  to  ascertain  whether  the  other  forces  had  come  up. 
No  reply  was  received ;  and  during  the  day  the  signals 
were  repeated,  but  still'  remained  unanswered,  and  it  was 
feared  that  the  attempt  to  occupy  the  heights  had  failed. 
It  was  known  that  General  McClellan  was  rapidly  ap- 
proaching the  army  of  General  Lee,  and  it  was  necessary 
that  the  works  at  Harpers  Ferry  should  be  carried  at 

20 


154  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

once.  The  day  and  the  night  passed  away  in  painful 
suspense.  The  morning  of  the  14th  carne,  and  the  sig- 
nals were  repeated.  An  answer  was  returned  from  the 
Loudoun  heights  ;  Walker  had  reached  his  position-;  but 
nothing  was  heard  from  McLaws.  Later  in  the  day  the 
signals  were  again  repeated,  and  McLaws  answered  from 
the  Maryland  heights.  He  had  succeeded,  after  encoun- 
tering numerous  difficulties,  in  reaching  and  occupying 
the  heights,  driving  the  federal  force  stationed  there  into 
the  town  of  Harpers  Ferry.  General  Jackson  advanced, 
his  troops  and  invested  the  town:  His  line  was  drawn 
completely  around  it,  from  the  fotomac  to  the  -Shenan- 
doah. A.  P.  Hill's  division  held  the  right,  Swell's  the 
centre,  and  the  1st  (Jackson^)  the  left.  Thus  the  enemy 
were  completely  enclosed  within  the  Southern  lines. 

In  order  to  make  a  more  effectual. resistance,  the  enemy 
abandoned  a  number  of  outworks  and  retired  within  their 
principal  defences  on  Bolivar  heights,  and  the  troops  of 
General  Jackson  j,t  once  occupie  1  the'  abandoned  works. 

It  was  now  very  late  in  the  day,  and  General  Jackson 
resolved  to  defer  the  final  assault  until  the  next  morning. 
At  night  he  sent  to  Generals  McLaws  and  Walker  orders 
to  open  their  fire  upon  the  town  the  next  morning  at 
sunrise,  accompanying  them' with  the  following  charac- 
teristic message : 

"  I  have  occupied  and  now  hold  the  enemy's  first  line 
of  entrenchments,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  will 
capture  the  whole  force  carty  in  the  morning." 

At  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  September, 
a  heavy  cannonade  was  opened  upon  the  enemy's  works 
from*  all  quarters.  It  was  responded  to  feebly.  A  little 
before  ten  o'clock,  General  Jackson  ordered  General  A, 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  155 

P.  Hill  to  advance  with  his  division  and  storm  the  federal 
entrenchments.  The  order  was  obeyed  with  alacrity,  but 
just  as  Hill  arrived  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works,  a  white  flag  was  hung  out  from  them.' 
General  Hill  at  once  sent  forward  an  aid  to  enquire  the 
cause  of  this,  and  a^lO  o'clock  received  the  sword  of 
General  White,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  federal  troops  after  the  fall  of  General  Miles,  who 
had  been  mortally  wounded  during  the  engagement.  The 
firing  ceased,  and  the  troops  entered  and  took  possession 
of  the  place. 

The  terms  of  the  surrender  accorded  by  General  Jack- 
son  were  most  liberal.  The  officers  were  allowed  to  re- 
tain their  private  property,  and  they,  taking  advantage 
of  this  privilege,  carried  off  a  large  portion  of  the  public 
property,  and  attempted  to  take  with  them  a  number  of 
negroes,  whom  they  claimed  to  have  brought  with  them 
from  the  North.  Many  negroes  were  recognized  by  their 
owners,  who  lived  in  the  surrounding  country,  and  re- 
covered. •  Seventeen  wagons  were  loaned  the  officers  to 
carry  off  their  baggage,  and  were  detained  for  a  long 
time,  and  then  returned  in  a  very  damaged  condition. 
The  men  were  paroled  and  allowed  to  depart,  and  after- 
wards exchanged. 

General  Jackson  captured  at  Harpers  Ferry  11,000 
troops  and  Brigadier-general  White,  73  pieces  of  artillery, 
nearly  12,000  small  arms,  about  200  wagons,  and  a  large 
amount  of  supplies,  ammunition  and  clothing.  The  fed- 
eral loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  very  heavy.  That 
of  the  confederates  was  very  slight. 

General  Jackson  modestly  announced  his  victory  in  tin 
following  dispatch  : 


i56  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 


• 


HEADQUARTERS    VALLEY    DISTRICT,  t 

September  16th,  1862.       •    J" 
•  Colo  f&l: 

Yesterday  God  crowned  our  arms  with  another  brilliant  suc- 
cess, on  the  surrender  at  Harpers  Ferry,  of  B#rigadier-general  White 
and  11,000  troops,  an  equal  number  of  small  arms,  13  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, and  about  200  wagons.. 

In  addition  to  other  stores,  there  is  a  large  amount  of  camp  and 
garrison  equipage.  Our  loss  is  very  small.  The "meritorious  conduct 
of  officers  and  men  will.be  mentioned  in  a  more  detailed  report. 

I  am  colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-general. 
Col.  R.  H.  Chilton,  A.  A.  G. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  at  Harpers  Ferry, 
others  of  equal  importance  were  occurring  in  Maryland. 
The  column  of  General  D.  H.  Hill  had  been  left  to  guard 
the  passes  of  the  South  mountain.  On  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember, General  McClellan  came  up  with  General  Hill 
and  engaged  him.  Seeing  Hill  so  sorely  pressed,  and 
being  informed  that  Harpers  Ferry  would  fall  the  next 
day,  General  Lee  moved  up  with  Longstreet's  colunrn  to 
his  assistance.  The  enemy  were  held  in  check,  and  du- 
ring the  night  the  army  withdrew  towards  the  Potomac, 
halting  on  the  banks  of  the  Antietam  creek,  near  the 
village  of  Sharpsburg. 

It  was  expected  that  Harpers  Ferry  would  fall  on  the 
13th,  and  if  this  had  been  the  case,  the  object  of  the 
campaign  being  accomplished,  the  army  of  General  Lee 
could  have  retired  across  the  Potomac  without  fighting  the 
battles  of  Boonsboro'  or  Sharpsburg.  But  the  obstacles 
were  more  formidable  than  had  been  anticipated ;  and  as 
Harpers  Ferry  had  not  fallen  when  McClellan  came  up 
with  D.  H.  Hill,  it  was  necessary  to  fight  him  in  order  to 


THOMAS   J.    JACKSON.  157 

Cover  the  operations  of  General  Jackson;  and  upon  finding 
that  the  federals  pressed  so  closely  upon  him  after  leaving 
Eoonsboro',  General  Lee  saw  that  it  would  be  necessary 
to  fight  McClellah  again  in  order  to  check  his  advance, 
and  secure  a  safe  passage  of  the  Potomac.  He  accord- 
ingly sent  orders  to  General  Jackson  to  join  him  at  once 
a.t  Sharpsburg.  The  army  had  been  greatly  weakened 
by  sickness  and  other  causes,  but  especially  by  the  strag- 
gling of  the  men,  which  had  been  indulged  in  to  a  shame- 
ful extent.  Over  thirty  thousand  men  had  been  lost  to 
the  army  in  this  way,  since  the  march  from  the  Rapidan 
began. 

On  Monday,  General  Jackson  received  General  Lee's 
order  to  join' him.  McLaws  and  Walker,  with  their 
forces,  crossed  over  to  Harpers  Ferry ;  A.  P.  Hill's  di- 
vision was  left  to  hold  the  place  until  the  captured  arti- 
cles could  be  removed,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  corps 
began  the  march  up  the  river  to  rejoin  General  Lee.* 

On  Thursday,  the  16th,  General  Jackson  with  his  own 
and  E well's  divisions  reached  the  army  on  the  Antietain 
and  disposed  his  forces  to  take  part   in  the  approaching 


-  Colonel  Ford,  an  officer  of  the  federal  army,  relates  the-following 
incident  which  occurred  at  Harpers  Ferry  : 

'•While  we  were  in  conversation."  he  says,  "an  orderly  rode  rap- 
idly across  the  bridge  and  said  to  General  Jackson,  '  Lam  ordered 
by  General  McLaws  lo  report  to  you  that  General  McCIellan  is  within 
six  miles  with  an  immense  army.'  Jackson  took  no  n'otice  of  the 
orderly  apparently,  and  continued  his  conversation  ;  but  when  the 
orderly  had  turned  away,  Jackson  called  after  him  with  the  question, 
'  Has  McCIellan  any  baggage  train  or  drove  of  cattle  ?'  The  reply 
was  that  he  had.  Jackson  remarked  that  he  could  whip  any  army 
that  was  followed  by  a  flock  of  cattle,  alluding  to  the  hungry  cottdi- 
.  :3  men." 


lo«  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

battle.  The  rest  of  his  command  were  hurrying  on,  but 
had  not  yet  come  up. 

General  Lee's  army  was  drawn  up  on  the*  Antietam 
k,  a  small  stream  near  the  town  of  Sharpsburg.  The 
town  lies  in  a  deep  valley,  through  which  winds  the  creek. 
On  the  cast  is  a  high  mountain  ridge,  running  nearly 
from  North  to  South.  The  country  is  very  undulating. 
The  right  wing  of  the  army,  under  General  Longstreet, 
rested  at  the  base  of  the  mountain  ridge ;  the  centre, 
under  General  D.  II.  Hill,  at  Sharpsburg,  and  the  left, 
(consisting  of  his  two  divisions)  under  General  Jackson, 
about  a  mile  to  the  left  of  the  town. 

The  enemy  appeared  in  front  of  General -Lee's  posi- 
tion about  three  or  four  o'clock  on  Monday  afternoon,  but 
made  no  attack.  Tuesday  was  spent  by  General  McClel- 
lan  in  massing  his  troops  on  his  right  for  the  purpose  of 
endeavoring  to  turn  the  confederate  left  flank.  Late  on 
Tuesday  evening,  heavy  skirmishing  occurred  between 
the  two  armies. 

On  the  eve  of  a  great  battle,  General  Lee's  effective 
force  did  not  number  thirty-five  thousand  men,  and  of 
these,  three  divisions  (McLaws.,  A.  P.  Hill  and  Walker) 
were  yet  to  come  up.  The  enemy  had  over  one  hundred 
thousand  of  his  best  troops. 

At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  troops  were  under  arms.  At  daylight  the 
pickets  commenced  skirmishing.  Soon  after  this  the 
enemy  opened  a  heavy  artillery  fire  upon  the  confederate 
position,  and  the  battle  had  fairly  begun.  Between  six 
and  seven  o'clock,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  .was 
burled  with  terrific  force  against  E well's  division  (under 
Lawton)  in  a  desperate  attempt  to  turn   the   confederate 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  159 

left  flank,  and  from  this  division  the  fight  extended  to 
Jackson's  own.  The  Southern  troops  were  largely  out- 
numbered, but  fought  with  great  efficiency.  The  enemy 
had  concentrated  his  best  troops  for  his  attempt  to  turn 
General  Lee's  left,  and  for  two  hours  and  a  half  the 
battle  raged  with  varying  success.  Large  numbers  had 
been  lost  on  both  sides,  and  finally  Swell's  hardy  vete- 
rans, borne  down  b}>-  superior  numbers,  began  to  give  way. 
At  this  moment,  Hood,  who  had  been  ordered  to  General 
Jackson's  assistance,  dashed  into  the  fight,  and  the 
troops  of  General  Lawton  rallying  quickly,  a  fresh  stand 
was  made  against  the  enemy,  and  soon  the  federal  col- 
umns were  driven  back.  Receiving  reinforcements,  they 
again  forced  the  confederates  to  retire,  having  succeeded 
by  mere  superiority  of  numbers  in  outflanking  General 
Jackson,  whose  men  retired  slowly,  hotly  contesting 
every  inch  of  ground.  Eight  federal  batteries  were 
now  in  full  play  upon  the  troops  under  General  Jack- 
son, while  huge  swarms  of  Northern  infantry  pressed 
heavily  upon  them.  McLaws  had  just  come  up,  and 
General  Lee  ordered  him  to  Jackson's  assistance.  As 
McLaws  brought  up'  his  division,  Jackson's  men  were 
nearly  exhausted  and  almost  out  of  ammunition.  Bring- 
ing his  reinforcements  into  action  with  a  skilful  hand, 
and  advancing  his  whole  line,  General  Jackson  swept 
down  upon  the  enemy  with  impetuosity  and  drove  them 
before  him  at  all  points.  For  half  an  hour  longer  the 
battle  raged  furiously,  and  then  the  enemy  began  to  re- 
treat. They  were  driven  from  the  field,  and  at  one  point 
pursued  for  nearly  a  mile.  The  engagement  on  the  left 
ceased  at  half-past  ten  o'clock,  and  was  not  renewed  by 
the  enemy  during  the  day.     They  contented  themselves 


160  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

with  endeavoring  to  prevent  GeneralJackson  from  driving 
back  their  lines  from  their  original  position. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  fight  on  the  left,  the  fede- 
rals attacked  General  D.  H.  Hill's  position  at  Sharps- 
burg.  Previous  to  this,  an  .artillery  fight,  which  com- 
menced at  sunrise,  had  been  going  on  at  this  point. 
About  12  o'clock  a  column  of  federal  infantry  crossed 
the  Antietam,  and  advanced  upon  the  confederate  centre, 
while  other  troops  were  hurried  over  the  creek  to  the  as- 
sistance of  the  first  column. 

The  confederate  artillery  receiving  the  fire  of  the  fed- 
oral  guns  without  returning  it,  directed  their  attention  to 
the  infantry,  and  uniting  their  efforts  with  those  of  the 
Southern  infantry,  drove  back  assault  after  assault,  in- 
flicting heavy  losses  upon  the  enemy.  Finally  they  were 
driven  back  in  confusion  across  the  Antietam. 

It  was  now  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  a  lull  in  the 
battle  occurred,  which  lasted  for  two  hours.  At  3  o'clock 
the  approach  of  A.  P.  Hill  with  the  rest  of  Jackson's 
forces  was  announced.  The  confederate  force  on  the 
extreme  right  did  not  now  exceed  six  thousand  men, 
while  the  enemy  were  seen  approaching,  about  fifteen 
thousand  strong,  to  attack  it.  Charging  in  one  solid 
mass,  they  endeavored,  by  their  great  weight,  to  break 
and  -drive  back  the  Southern  line;  In  this  they  were 
well  nigh  successful.  '  The  artillery  poured  a  destructive 
fire  into  their  ranks,  but  filling  up  the  gaps  they  clashed 
oji  with  spirit.  The  Southern  infantry  resisted  their  ad- 
vance right  manfully,  but  at  last,  having  fired  their  last 
cartridge,  began  to  give  way.  It  was  4  o'clock,  and  the 
fate  of  the  day  was  trembling  in  the  balance.  At  this 
moment  A.  P.  Hill,  the  Blucher  of  the  day,  dashed  for- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  161 

ward  with  his  hardy  veterans,  and  throwing  them  upon 
the  enemy,  engaged  them  in  an  obstinate  conflict,  which, 
about  6  o'clock,  resulted  in  the  federals  being  driven, 
with  broken  and  shattered  ranks,  back  over  the  Antie- 
tam.  Night  coming  on,  the-  battle  ended.  The  enemy 
had  been  driven  back  at  all  points,  and  the  confederates 
were  left  in  possession  of  the  field. 

The  confederate  loss  in  this  battle  was  about  7,000 
men,  including  Generals  Starke  and  Branch  killed,  and 
Generals  Anderson,  Lawton,  Wright,  Ripley  and  Armis- 
tead  wounded.  The  enemy  lost  about  25,000  men,  in- 
cluding Generals  Hooker,  ITartsuff,  Duryee.,  Richardson, 
■Sedgwick,  French,  Sumner,  Dana,  •  Meagher,  Ricketts, 
Weber  and  Rodman  wounded.  They  claimed  to  have 
won  a  great  victory.  This,  as  has  been  seen,  was  untrue. 
They  were  defeated  at  every  point. 

On  Thursday  morning  the  enemy  were  not  to  be  found. 
They  had  abandoned  their  position  during  the  night,  and 
had  withdrawn'  a  short  distance  from  the  field.  During 
the  day  several  "  flags  of  truce"  came  in  from  the  enemy, 
asking  permission  to  bury  the  dead.  The  requests  were 
refused,  because  they  did  not  come  from  General  McClel- 
lan.  All  of  the  wounded,  except  those  who  were  too 
badly  hurt  to  be  removed,  were  carried  from  the  field, 
and  the  army  remained  in  possession  of  the  battle  ground 
during  the  entire  day.  At  night  General  Lee  withdrew 
his  troops,  and,  recrossing  the  Potomac,  retired  into  Vir- 
ginia. 

In  order  to  defend  his  passage  of  the  Potomac,  Gene- 
ral Lee  placed  General  Pendleton,  with  forty  or  fifty 
pieces  of  artillery  and  three  brigades  of  infantry,  at 
Boteler's  mill,  near  Shepherdstown,  on  the  right  bank  of 

21 


162  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

the  river.  After  the  army  had  crossed,,  this  force,  sup- 
ported by  another,  all  under  General  A.  P.  Hill,  was  left 
to  watch  the  enemy,  while  the  main  body  of  the  army 
retired  a  few  miles  beyond  Shepherdstown. 

On  Friday,  the  19th,  the  enemy  appeared  in  large 
force,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  wishing  to 
decoy  them  over,  General  Hill  withdrew  his  main  body 
from  sight  and  left  a  very  weak  force  confronting  them. 

On  the  next  day,  (Saturday  the  20th  of  September), 
the  federal  commander  crossed  a  large  column  and  made 
an  effort  to  capture  the  little  band.  As  soon  as  the  enemy 
had  gotten  fairly  over,  General  Hill  advanced  his  troops, 
and  falling  suddenly  upon  them,  drove  them  across  th% 
river  with  great  slaughter.  So  great  was  their  confusion 
and  fright,  that,  although  the  river  was  scarcely  more 
than  knee  deep,  many  were  drowned  in  crossing.  The 
confederates  poured  a  withering  fire  into  them,  and  the 
river  was,  in  many  places,  literally  black  with  their  corpses, 
and,  it  is  said,  the  water  was  red  with  their  blood  for  a 
mile  below  the  ford.  The  enemy  lost  2,50.0  men,  and  the 
confederates  250. 

After  recrossing  the  Potomac,  General  Lee  withdrew 
his  army  to  Martinsburg  and  began  the  work  of  reor- 
ganization. Stragglers  were  picked  up  and  brought  in, 
and  the  army  gradually  resumed  its  former  proportions. 

The  campaign  in  Maryland  had  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful. In  commencing  the  narration  of  it,  I  asserted 
tnat  it  was  General  Lee's  object  to  capture  the  federal 
force  at  Harpers  Ferry.  If  this  assertion  is  true,  it  is 
impossible  to  deny  that  the  campaign  was  successful.  But 
if  it  was  his  object  to  liberate  the  state  of  Maryland,  the 
campaign  was  a  failure..    In  the  absence  of  official  infor- 


THOMAS   J*.  JACKSON.  168 

illation,  we  can  only^speculate  upon  the  probable  designs 
of  General  Lee  ;  but  with  the  existing  facts  before  us,  I 
think  we  can  arrive- at  a  very  fair  estimate  of  his  inten- 
tions in  invading  the  state  of  Maryland. 

When  his  army  reached  Pleasant.  Valley,  General  Lee 
had  a  choice  of  two  routes  leading  into   Maryland :    he 
could  cross  the  Potomac  either  near   Seneca  falls,  or  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Poolsville.     By  crossing  at  the  for- 
mer place  he  WQuld  be   nearer   Washington,   and  by  a 
rapid  march  would  be  enabled  to  seize  the  only  railroad 
leading  to  the  city,  and  cut  off  its  communications  with 
the  North.     If  forced    to    retreat,   the    way    was    open 
through   Montgomery  county.     He   would  then  be  in  a 
portion  of  Maryland  where  he  would  be  surrounded  by 
friends,  and  where  thousands  would  iiock  to  his  standard. 
He  could,  in  case  of  necessity,  aid  the  city  of  Baltimore 
and  Lower  Maryland  in  throwing  off  the   federal   yoke ; 
and  if  he  could   hold  the  army  of  General  Pope  within 
the  lines  of  Washington,  he  would  have  every  reason  to 
hope  for  success.  '  But  if  he  should   enter  the  state  by 
the  latter  route,  he  would  be  in  a  section  hostile  to  him, 
far  removed  from  the  federal  capital  and*  the   friends  of 
the  South,  and  with  a  large  federal   army  between  him- 
self and  Southern  Maryland.     The  liberation  of  Mary- 
land must  necessarily  be  a  slow  process  and  accompanied 
with  very  great  risk.     In  the  present  condition  of  affairs, 
the  South  was  not  prepared  to  attempt  it.     But  a  tempt- 
ing prize  lay  within  the  grasp  of  the   confederate  com- 
mander.    The   stronghold   of   Harpers   Ferry,    with   its 
large  garrison  and  immense  quantities  of  stores,  might, 
by  a  bold  movement  be   captured.     The  garrison  would 
thus,  for  a  time,  be  lost  to  the  federal  service,  and  the 


'A 


164  EIEUTENA^f-OEXEEAL 

stores,  of  which  the  South  stood  greatly  in  need,  secured 
to  her.  To  capture  Harpers  Ferry  General  Lee  resolved, 
and  for  this  purpose  the  army  entered  Maryland. 

At  Frederick  city,  General  Lee  issued  a  proclamation, 
inviting  the  Marylancters  to  rise  in  defence  of  their  lib- 
erties. An  accomplished  writer,  who  is  not  an  admirer 
of  General  Lee,  says  that  "  bis  proclamation  at  Fred- 
erick, offering  protection  to  the  Mary  landers,  is  incon- 
trovertible evidence  of  the  fact  that  tlie  object  of  the 
campaign  was  to  occupy  and  hold  the  state."  I  admit 
that  at  first  this  seems  to  be  true.  But  a  closer  exami- 
nation of  the  subject  must  convince  every  unprejudiced 
person  that  this  proclamation  affords  no  such  evidence. 
In  it  General  Lee  no  where  asserts  his  intention  to  occupy 
and  hold  the  state.  He  says  the  people  of  the  South 
sympathize  with  Maryland,  and  wish  liu  see  her  freed 
from  the  tyranny  of  her  foes,  and  adds:  "In  obedience 
to  this  wish  our  army  lias  come  among  you  and  is  pre- 
pared to  assist  you  with  the  power  of  its  anus  in  regain- 
ing the  rights  of  which  you  have  been  deprived.'' 

In  this  announcement  I  can  no  where  see  the  assertion 
of  a  determination  to  liberate  the  state  or  to  occupy  and 
hold  it.  General  Lee  states  that  the  army  is  "  prepared 
to  assist"  the  people,  but  does  not  say  that  it  is  his  pur- 
pose to  remove  the  federal  yoke  from  Maryland.  It  was 
necessary  for  the  army  to  place  the  Marylanders  in  a 
condition  to  rise  before  they  could  avail  themselves  of 
the  offer ;  and  this  had  not  been  done.  Of  course,  if 
they  should  rise  against  the  federals,  it  would  be  a  great 
gain  for  General  Lee.  I  do  not  think  he  expected  them 
to  rise,  and  I  am  convinced  that  his  proclamation  was 
issued  for  the   purpose  of  deceiving  the  enemy  as  to  his 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  165 

real  intentions — a  measure  which  he  could  embrace  with 
perfect,  propriety.  The  permanent  occupation  of  Mary- 
land would  have  been  of  incalculable  value  to  the  South, 
but  what  good  would  have  resulted  -from  the  occupation 
of  the  western  portion  of  it,  sixty  miles  from  Baltimore,. 
with  a  large  hostile  ariny  between  Washington  and  Fred- 
erick, I  am  at  a  loss  to  discover. 

The  proclamation,  which  those  who  pronounce  this 
campaign  "a  failure,"  hold  up  as  such  "incontrover- 
tible evidence''  of  the  truth  of  that  assertion,  was  issued 
on  the  8th  of  September  1862.  On  the  morning  of  the 
10th,  the  army  left  Frederick  and  moved  towards  Ha- 
gcrstown,  thus  increasing  the  distance  between  itself  and 
Washington  and  its  friends,  but  drawing  nearer  to  Har- 
pers Ferry.  Surely  General  Lee  could  not  expect  his 
proclamation  to  be  scattered  through  the  state,  and  the 

friends  of  the  South  to  flock  to  him  from  a  distance  vary- 

*  *  . 

ing  from  sixty  to   one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  in  the 

short  space  of  two  days.     And  if  he  had  wished  them  to 

rise,  why  should  he   have  moved  his  army  farther  from 

them.      It  is  certainly  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that  in 

this  case   be  would  have  moved  nearer  to  Washington, 

and   either  have   crossed  the  Monocacy  himself,  or  have 

prevented  the  passage  of  it  by  the  army  of  General  Mc- 

Clellan,  which,  he  knew,  was  preparing  to  advance  upon 

him.     Every  movement  of  his  army  was  towards  Harpers 

Ferry,  and   affords   "incontrovertible   evidence"   that  it 

was  his   object  to   capture  that   place.      Of  the  events 

which  would  have  followed  the  capture  of  Harpers  Ferry, 

I  am,   of   course,    unprepared  to   speak ;  but  I  do   not 

believe   that   General  Lee   expected  to   fight    either    at 

Boonsboro'  or  Sharpsburg.     The  delay  in  the  capture  of 


166  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

Harpers  Ferry,  necessitating  a  protection  of  Jackson's 
operations,  and  the  rapid  advance  of  McClellan,  forced 
him  to  fight  at  those  places,  and  added  new  laurels  to  the 
wreath  that  already  encircled  his  brow. 

The  assertion  of  the  enemies  of  General  Lee,  must, 
therefore,  fall  to  the  ground,  when  opposed  by  a  fair  and 
unprejudiced  statement  of  facts. 

In  support  of  my  argument,  I  append  the  following 
extract  from  a  letter  written  to  the  London  "  Times,"  by 
a  correspondent,  who  was.  furnished  by  General  Lee  him- 
self with  such  information,  as  it  was  proper  to  reveal, 
concerning  the  campaign.     He  says  : 

"It  is  generally  stated  that  the  confederate  authorities 
calculated  upon  a  rising  in  Maryland  directly  their  army 
entered  that  state.  Nevertheless,  everybody  to  whom  I 
spoke  on  the  subject  ridiculed 'the  idea  of  ever  having 
thought  that  any  such  rising  would  ever  take  place,  until 
either  Baltimore  was  in  their  hands,  or  they  had  at  least 
established  a  position  in  that  country,  as  it  was  well 
known  that  the  inhabitants  of  Washington  and  Frederick 
counties  were  far  from  being  unanimous  in  their  opinions, 
and  that  in  many  districts  there,  the  unionists  were  con- 
siderably in  the  majority." 

After  remaining  in  Martinsburg  a  short  time,  General 
Lee  removed  his  army  to  Winchester.  The  enemy  occu- 
pied Harpers  Ferry  and  the  left  bank  of  the  Potomac  as 
far  as  Williamsport,  occasionally  throwing  bodies  of  troops 
into  Virginia.  , 

General  Jackson  was  once  more  in  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  had  redeemed  the  promise  made  to  the  people 
of  Winchester  when  he  left  it  the  last  time,  that  "  he 
would  return   again  shortly,  and  as  certainly  as  now." 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  161 

■  **• 
That  coming  had  long  been  watched  for  by  both  friend 

and  foe.     Once  when  he  was  moving  upon  Pope  at  Cedar 

run,  the  enemy  at  Winchester  had  been  startled  by  the 

report  that  he  was  moving  rapidly  down  the  Valley,  and 

had  been  filled  with  dismay  at  the  prospect  of  meeting 

him. 

«    He  had  come  again  to  the  Valley  bearing  the  laurels 

of  nearly  half  a  score  of  victories  won  since  he  left  it. 

He  came  only  once  more — never  to  leave  it. 

"While  the  army  lay  at  Winchester,  General  Jackson 
was  charged  with  the  duty  of  watching  the  enemy.  About 
the  middle  of  October,  General  McClellan  crossed  his 
army  at  Harpers  Ferry  and  Williamsport,  and  moving 
forward,  occupied  Charlestown  in  Jefferson  county,  and 
Kearney  svillc  on  the  Baltimore  and  .Ohio  railroad.  Se- 
vere skirmishing  occurred  along  the  lines  daily*  On  the 
17th  of  October  the  enemy  moved  forward  from  the  Po- 
tomac towards  Martinsburg.  General  Jackson  at  once 
advanced  upon  them  and  drove  them  rapidly  across  the 
the  river.  Remaining  with  his  command  for  some  time 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Potomac,  he  inflicted  great 
damage  upon  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  tearing 
up  the  track  and  burning  bridges.  That  portion  of  the 
road  extending  ||m  Sir  John's  run,  in  Morgan  county, 
to  a  point  within  a  few  miles  of  Harpers  Ferry,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  forty  miles,  was  entirely  destroyed. 

General  McClellan  lay  idly  watching  General  Lee  until 
late  in  October.  His  forces  were  more  numerous  and 
better  equipped  than  those  of  the  confederate  commander, 
but  he  had  suffered  too  severely  from  Lee's  skill  and  the 
bravery  of  his  troops,  to  wish  to  attack  him  again.  The 
federal  government    sent    General    McClellan    repeated 


168  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

orders  to  advance  upon  General  Lee,  but  he  contrived  to 
evade  the  execution  of  them,  knowing  that  his  safety  lay 
in  inaction.  At  last,  having  received  peremptory  orders 
to  advance,  he  moved  the  main  body  of  his  army  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  sending  the  corpS  of  General  Burnsicle 
in  advance.  His  object  was  to  seize  the  passes  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  hold  the  army  of  General  Lee  in  check,  anil 
force  that  officer  either  to  remain  in  the  Valley  or  to  pass 
the  mountains  nearer  to  Staunton,  while  he  would  send  a 
strong  column  to  attack  Richmond.  The  plan  was  well 
laid,  but  not  deep  enough  to  baffle  the  penetration  of 
General  Lee.  Scarcely  had  McClellan  put  his  troops  in 
motion,  when  Longstreet's  corps  passed  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  moved  towards  Culpeper.  General  Jackson  was  left 
behind  to  watch  McClellan,  to  prevent  him  from  occu- 
pying the  mountain  passes,  and  to  check  any  pursuit  of 
Longstreet  that  might  be-attempted. 

McClellan  pressed  on.  General  Jackson  moving  his 
forces  from  point  to  point,  confuted  him  as  to  his  inten- 
tions, and  prevented  him  from  occupying  the  gaps- through 
which  he  desired  to  pass  his  own  troops.  Baffled  by  the 
superior  skill  of  Jackson,  and  finding  that  Lee  had  out- 
generalled  him  again,  McClellan  begun  massing  his  troops 
in  the  region  of  Culpeper.  vThe  feder^  army  coivinued 
to  move  on  and  reached  Warrenton.  nere  General  Mc- 
Clellan was  deprived  of  his  command  by  his  government, 
and  was  succeeded  by  General  Burnside. 

Gencral'Burnside  finding  that  General  Lee  was  deter- 
mined to  prevent  him  from  passing  the  upper  Rappahan- 
nock, resolved  to  move  his  army  lower  down,  cross  the 
river  at  Fredericksburg,  and  throw  himself  between  Rich- 
mond and  General  Lee.     He  at  once  began  to  move  his 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  169 

army  down  the  Rappahannock,  hoping  by  attracting  Lee's 
attention  in  another  direction' to  accomplish  this  move- 
ment in  secrecy.  But  General  Lee  was  watching  him 
closely,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  satisfied  as  to  the  inten- 
tions of  the  federal  commander,  moved  his  army  rapidly 
towards  Fredericksburg. 

General  Sumner  commanded  the  advanced  corps  of 
General  Burnside's  army,  and  when  he  arrived  opposite 
Fredericksburg,  demanded  of  the  mayor  and  council  the 
surrender  of  the  ^ace.  This  was  on  the  21st  of  No- 
vember. The  city  authorities,  acting  under  instructions 
from  General  Lee,  refused  to  comply  with  the  demand. 
General  Burnside  hurried  forward  with  the  remainder  of 
his  army,  but  when  he  reached  the  hills  of  Stafford,  op- 
posite Fredericksburg,  found  the  army  of  General  Lee 
occupying  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  the  town.* 

General  Burnside  determined  to  make  the  Rappahan- 
nock his  base  of  operations  against  Richmond,  and  for- 
tified his  position.  The  hills  in  the  rear  of  Fredericks- 
burg were  strongly  fortified  by  the  confederates,  and  for 
some  time  the  two  armies  lay  watching  each  other. 

General  Lee  being  satisfied  as  to  the  intentions  of 
General  Burnside,  directed  General  Jackson's  corps  to- 
join  him. 

General  Jackson  left  the  Valley  about  the  1st  of  De- 

x_  When  the  demand  for  the  surrender  of  Fredericksburg  was  re- 
ceived, the  federal  commander  was  asked  for  time  to  obtain  an  an- 
swer from  General  Lee.  General  Sumner  replied  that  the  request 
could  not  be  granted — "  the  delay  would  be  too  great ;  General  Lee 
was  at  least^a  hundred  miles  away."  When  he  was  informed  that 
General  Lee's  forces  were  bnt  ihref  mil  t.'.'e  (ow,-:..he  seemed 

ove.-'.vhelajcd  with   .-. 

22 


170  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

cember,  and  by  a  rapid  march,  reached  Fredericksburg 
soon  afterwards. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  General  Burnside  crossed 
the  Rappahannock  and  occupied  Fredericksburg. 

The  army  of  General   Lee  was  posted   on   the    hills 

which  lie  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  and  which   enclose  it 

in  almost  a  semi-circle,  the  centre  being  about  four  miles 

from  the  river.     The  country  between  the  hills  and  the 

* 
river  is  to  a  great  extent   open  and  very  little   broken. 

Immediately  above  the  town  and  on  ihe  left  of  the  con- 
federate position,  the  bluffs  are  .bold  and  without  trees  or 
undergrowth.  As  the  range  of  hills  extends  to  the  east- 
ward, the  elevation  decreases,  and  they  become  more 
thickly  wooded.  The  left  was  within  rifle  range  of  the 
town,  and  by  far  the  strongest  point  of  the  line.  The 
centre  and  right  were  weaker,  the  enemy  enjoying  many 
advantages  in  attacking  them  of  which  they  were  de- 
prived on  the  left.  The  left  was  held  by  General  Long- 
street's  corps,  while  Jackson  was  posted  on  the  right. 
The  order  of  the  various  divisions,  proceeding  from  left 
to  right,  was  as  follows  :  "  Anderson's  on  the  extreme  left, 
afterwards  Ransom's,  McLaws',  Pickett's  and  Hood's — 
these  comprising  Longstreet's  corps ;  then  A.  P.  Hill's 
and  Taliaferro's  of  Jackson's  corps.  The  cavalry  under 
General  Stuart  were  posted  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
line,  which  stretched  along  the  hills  from  Fredericksburg 
(on  the  left),  to  the  Massaponax  creek  (on  the  right). 
Eweli's  (now  under  Early)  and  D.  H.  Hill's  divisions  had 
been  stationed  near  Port  Royal  to  prevent  a  passage  of 
the  river  at  that  point  by  the  enemy,  and  as  soon  as 
Burnside  revealed  his  intentions,  were  ordered  back. 
They  reached  the  field  about  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 


•  THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  171 

the  battle,  and  took  position  on  the  right  to  act  as  a  sup- 
port to  the  rest  of  Jackson's  corps. 

About  9  o'ciock  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  De- 
cember, the  enemy  advanced  a  heavy  column,  estimated 
at  55,000  strong,  to  attack  General  Jackson's  position, 
their  movement  being  partially  concealed  by  a  heavy  fog 
that  overhung  the  entire  field,  but  which  was  gradually 
lifting.  General  A.  P.  Hill  had"  been  posted  with  his 
division  at  Hamilton's  crossings — the  centre  of  the  con- 
federate line— and  upon  this  poiut  the  federal  attack  was  . 
directed. 

As  soon  as  the.  enemy  were  seen  approaching,  General 
Stuart  moved  forward  his  horse  artillery  under  Major 
Pelham,  and  opening  an  enfilading  fire  upon  them-,  doing 
great  execution.  At  the  same  time  the  troops  of  General 
Hill  became  hotly  engaged.  The  confederates  had  the 
advantage  in  position,  but  the  enemy  greatly  outnum- 
bered them.  Twice  the  enemy  furiously  assailed  General 
Jackson's  position.  About  one  o'clock  two  of  Hill's 
brigades  were  driven  back  upon  his'  second  line,  and  the 
enemy  succeeded  in  occupying  a  portion  of  the  woods  on 
the  crest.  But  their  success  was  of  short  duration,  for 
Early  hurrying  forward  with  a  part  of  his  division,  fell 
upon  them  with  fury,  drove  them  from  the  hill  and  across, 
the  plain  below,  and  only  ceased  his  pursuit  when  his 
men  came  under  the  fire  of  the  fedfraj  batteries.  The 
right  of  the  enemy's  column,  extending  beyond  Hill's 
front,  took  possession  of  a  copse  of  woods  in  front  of  the 
position  of  General  Hood,  but  were  quickly  driven  from 
it  with  loss. 

Soon  after  the  repulse  of  the  attack  on  the  right,  the 
enemy  made  a  furious  charge,  upon  the  Southern  left 


172  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

under  General  Longstreet.  They  approached  gallantly — ■ 
the  Irish  division  being  in  the  advance.  These  troops 
fought  with  desperation,  but  in  vain.  From  Marye's  hill, 
Walton's  guns  and  McLaws'  infantry  hurled  a  fearful  fire 
upon  thein,  and  swept  them  back  with  torn  and  shattered 
ranks  into  the  town.  About  dark,  the"  enemy  made  a  last 
assault  upon  the  hill,  supported  by  a  terrible  fire  from 
the  federal  batteries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
They  were  again  repulsed  and  driven  into  •the  town. 

The  losses  sustained  by  the  enemy  in  these  several 
attacks  were  very  great,  and  the  remnants  of  that  splendid 
army,  which  had  so  vauntingly  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock, crowded  at  night  into  Fredericksburg' in  the  great- 
est demoralization  and  confusion.  They  ran  through  the 
streets  and  cowered  in  the  cellars,  positively  refusing  to 
go  back  to  the  field  again.  Had  General  Lee  opened  his 
guns  upon  the-  town  that  night,  a  perfect  massacre  and 
the  destruction  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  federal  army 
would  have  ensued. 

The  next  day  General  Burnside  gave  orders  for-  a  sec- 
ond advance  upon  the  confederate  lines,  but  the  troops 
refused  to  obey  them  ;  aud  his  general  officers  represent- 
ing this  to  him,  induced  him  to  recall  his  orders.  The 
day  was  spent  in  burying  the  dead  and  caring  for  the 
wounded.  On  Monday,  the  15th,  the  •  enemy  continued 
in  Fredericksburg^  nut  made  no  demonstration,  and  at 
night,  under  the  cover  of  a  severe  storm,  recrossed  the 
river.  g 

The  confederate  loss  in  this  engagement  was  about 
1,8P0,  including  Generals  T.  R.  R.  Cobb  and  Gregg. 
The  enemy's  loss  has  been  estimated. at  from  twenty  to 
twenty-five  thousand  men,   including  Generals  Bayard 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  .  173 

and  Jackson  killed,  and  several  generals  wounded,  and 
1,626  prisoners.  • 

During  the  battle,  General  Jackson  was  conspicuous 
for  his  gallantry.  Just  before  the  action  began,  he  rode 
along  the  lines  dressed  in  a  handsome  new  uniform,  the 
gift  of  a  friend.  It  was  his  habit  to  dress  very  plainly, 
and  his  men  had  grown  accustomed  to  watch  for  their  gen- 
eral just  before  a  battle  began,  never  failing  to  recognize 
him  by  the  old  slouched  hat  and  the  faded  gray  uniform, 
when  too  far  oft*  to  distinguish  his  features.  Never  before 
had  they  failed  to  shout  until  the  heavens  rung,  when 
they  saw  him  approach.  Now  they  glanced  carelessly  at 
the  officer  in  the  handsome  uniform,  and  gazed  impa- 
tiently up  and  down  the  lines,  wondering  why  "  Old 
Stonewall"  did  not  appear.  After  he  had  passed  them, 
it  became  known  to  them  that  the  officer  in  the  fine  uni- 
form was  their  general,  and  they  gave  vent  to  many  ex- 
clamations of  regret  at  having  suffered  him  to  pass  them 
without  cheering  him. 

It  is  related  of  him,  that  as  the  action  began,  he  was 
standing  by  General  Lee,  watching  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  The  gallant  Pelham  was  bravely  contending 
against  a  heavy  fire  from  the  federal  batteries.  Turning 
to, General  Jackson,  General  Lee  exclaimed: 

"  It  is  inspiriting  to  see  such  glorious  courage  in  one 
so  young." 

General  Jackson  replied  in  his  quiet,  firm  way : 

"  With  a  Pelham  upon  either  flank,  I  could  vanquish 
the  world." 

Shortly  after  this,  General  Longstreet  asked  him, 
smilingly,  as  he  pointed  to  the  federal  column  which  was 
approaching  to  attack  the  right :'   . 


174     .  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

"  Are  you  not  scared  by  that  file  of  yankees  you  have 
before, you,  down  there  ?" 

"Wait  till  they  come  a  little  nearer,"  replied  General 
Jackson,  "and  they  shall  either  scare  me,  or  I'll  scare 
them." 

At  a  critical  period  of  the  engagement,  General  Lee 
sent  an  aid  with  an  order  to  General  Jackson.  The  offi- 
cer was  searching  for  him  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  fire 
from  thp  enemy,  when  he  heard  some  one  exclaim : 

"  Dismount,  sir  !  dismount!  You  will  certainly  be 
killed  there  !" 

Glancing  around,  he  saw  General  Jackson  lying  flat 
upon  his  back  on  the  ground,  while  the  balls  were  whist- 
ling all  around  him.  Alighting,  he  gave  him  General 
Lee's  order.  Making  the  officer  lie  down  by  him,  Gene- 
ral Jackson  read  the  message,  and  turning  over  wrote  a 
reply.  Handing  it  to  the  aid,  he  resumed  his  original 
position  in-  the  coolest  and  most  unconcerned  manner 
imaginable. 

,  During  this  battle  there  was  witnessed  a  spectacle, 
which,  although  it  was  now  so  familiar  to  the  men,  was 
unsurpassed  by  any  seen  that  day.  Riding  forward  a 
short  distance  in  front  of  the  army,  and  uncovering  his 
head,  and  raising  his  eyes  to  heaven,  General  Jackson 
prayed  the  God  of  battles  to  be  with  the  army  that  day. 
The  troops  looked  on  with  softened  hearts,  and  it  would 
have  fared  badly  with  the  wretch  who  could  have  dared 
to  make  light  of  such  a  scene  in  the  presence  of  one  of 
Jackson's  men. 

After  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  the  army  continued 
to  hold  its  position  on  the  hills,  awaiting  the  advance  of 
the  enemy.     General  Jackson  busied  himself  in  looking 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  *      175 

after  his  men  and  trying  to  make  them  comfortable.  He 
also  availed  himself  of  this  opportunity  to  prepare  his 
official  reports  of  his  campaigns. 

During  the  second  session  of  the  first  congress,  (early 
in  1863),  the  president  was  authorized  to  confer  upon  a 
certain  number  of  officers  of  the  army  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-general. As  soon  as  this  law  was  passed,  the 
president  conferred  upon  General  Jackson  (among  others) 
the  new  rank. 

Late  in  April,  the  movements  of  General  Hooker,  now 
in  command  of  the  federal  army,  began  to  assume  a  sig- 
nificant  character,  and  it  became   evident  that  a  <xreat 

■ 
battle  was  soon  to  be  fought. 

One  evening  late  in  April,  General  Jackson  was  con- 
.versing  with  a  member  of  his  staff,  and  giving  his  rea- 
sons for  believing  tha't  a  great  battle  was  at  hand*  As 
the  conversation  progressed,  he  became  unusually  excited. 
Suddenly  pausing,  he  was  silent  for  some  moments,  and 
then  said  humbly  and  reverently,  "  My  trust  is  in  God.?' 
Then,  the  true  spirit  of  the  warrior  rising  within  him,  he 
raised  himself  to  his  full  height,  and  exclaimed  proudly, 
while  his  noble  features  glowed  with  enthusiasm — "I 
wish  they  would  come  !" 

Having  determined  to  cross  the  Rappahannock,  Gene- 
ral Hooker  began  to  put  his  plan  into  execution.  On  the 
28th  of  April  he  crossed  a  column  under  General  Sedg- 
wick, at  Deep  run  below  Fredericksburg,  and  in  front  of 
General  Early's  position.  After  severe  skirmishing, 
Early  forced  this  column  to  remain  close  to  the  shore  of 
the  river.  Hoping  to  divert  General  Lee's  attention  to 
the  column  at  Deep  run,  and  thus  conceal  his  own  move- 
ments, General  Hooker,  after  leaving  a  strong  corps  at 


176     *  •  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

Falmouth,  moved  his  main  army  about  twenty-five  miles 
.up  the  Rappahannock,  and  crossed  the  river.  The  column 
at  Deep  run  was  then  withdrawn  to  the  Stafford  side.  It 
was  General  Hooker's  intention  to  occupy  a  strong  posi- 
tion above  Fredericksburg,  and  thus  force  General  Lee 
either  to  submit  to  an  attack  in  his  rear,  or  to  leave  his 
works  on  the  Spotsylvania  hills  and  come  out  and  fight 
him  in  the  open  field,  where  he  hoped  that  his 'superior 
numbers  would  give  him  the  victory.  As  soon  as  General 
Lee  should  advance  to  meet  him,  Sedgwick  was  to  cross 
the  river  at  Fredericksburg  and  fall  upon  Lee's  flank. 
In  order  to  cut  off  General  Lee's  communications  with 
Richmond  and  deprive  him  of  assistance,  General  Stone- 
man,  with  the  federal  cavalry,  was  to  fall  suddenly  lipon 
the  Fredericksburg  and  Central  railroads,  destroy  them,, 
and  fchen  do  what  other  damage  he  could. 

About  noon  on  the  29th  of  April,'  General  Lee  was 
informed  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  had  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  and  Ellis'  fords,  and  were  press- 
ing towards  Ely's  and  Germanna  fords  on  the  Rapidan. 
Two  small  brigades  Of  Anderson's  division  (Posey's  and 
Mahone's)  had  been  stationed  for  some  time  at  these 
points  to  guard  the  approaches  to  Fredericksburg.  Un- 
able to  stand  before  the  pressure  of  Hooker's  heavy 
columns,  they  retired  to  Chancellorsville,  where  they  de- 
termined to  make  a  stand.  General  Wright  was  at  once 
ordered  to  their  assistance,  and  reached  Chancellorsville 
at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  30th.  General  An- 
derson had  come  up  during  the  night,  and  having  received 
more  accurate  information  respecting  the  strength  of  the 
enemy,  determined  to  fall  back  to  a  point  five  miles 
nearer  Fredericksburg,  where  the  road  leading  from  Uni- 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  177 

ted  States  ford,  (called  the  old  Mine  road)  crosses  the 
Orange  and  Fredericksburg  plank  road.  This  point  was 
reached  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  General  An- 
derson, disposing  his  forces  in  line  of  battle,  resolved  to 
hold  his  position  until  he  could  receive  assistance  from 
General  Lee.  His  force  consisted  of  scarcely  more  than 
five  thousand  men,  while  Hooker  brought  with  Kim  nearly 
his  whole  army.     The  enemy  halted  at  Chancellorsville. 

The  position  held  by  the  army  of  General  Hooker  was 
very  strong.  His  left  rested  at  Ghancellprsville,  while 
his  right  stretched  away  towards  Wilderness  creek. 

Chancellorsville  consists  of  one  large  brick  house,  and 
is  situated  about  fifteen  miles  west  of  Fredericksburg 
and  four  miles  southwest  of  the  Rapidan,  at  the  point 
where  the  main  road  from  Ely's  ford  falls  into  the  plank 
road.  About  four  or  five  miles  west  of  Chancellorsville, 
is  a  rugged  country  covered  with  a  thick,  tangled  and 
apparently  impenetrable  •  growth  of  stunted  oaks,  called 
the  Wilderness.  Scattered  here  and  there  through  this 
Wilderness  are  cleared  spots,  varying  in  size  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  acres.  .  Through  the  midst  of  these  woods 
winds  a  narrow  and  tortuous  road.  Upon  the  cleared 
spots  General  Hooker  erected  strong  breastworks,  and 
behind  them  posted  his  artillery  and  infantry.  To  ap- 
proach these  works,  an  attacking  force  must  either  ad- 
vance by  the  road,  which  could  be- swept  by  the  artillery, 
or  force  their  way  through  the  woods.  A  stronger  posi- 
tion could  not  have*  been  chosen,  and  it  is  no  wonder  Gcn-t 
oral  Hooker  considered  it  "impregnable."  .  Strong  in- 
trenchments  had  also  been  thrown  up  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chancellorsville,  and,  thus  prepared.  General  Hoo! 
'  f\  I  isfc. 

23 


178  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

As  soon  as  he  heard  of  General  Anderson's  situation, 
General  Lee  ordered  General  Jackson  to  leave  one  divi- 
sion of  his  corps  to  hold  the  works  at  Fredericksburg, 
and  to  march  with  the  o.ther  three  (A.  P.  Hill's.,  under 
that  general's  command ;  D.  H.  Hill's,  under  General 
Rodes  ;  and  Trimble's  under  General  Colston)  to  Ander- 
son's position,  to  take  command  of  Anderson's  and  part 
of  McLaws'  divisions,  and  "  attack  and  repulse  the 
enemy." 

Leaving  Early's  division  before  Fredericksburg,  he 
reached  Anderson's  position  the  next  morning.  Ander- 
son's division  was  placed  in  iron*  and  two  brigades  of 
McLaws'  division  sent  forward  on  .the  United  States'  ford 
road.  Posey's,  Wright's,  and  shortly  afterwards  Ran- 
seur's  brigades  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  both  sides 
of  the  road,  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and  the  com- 
mand advanced  towards  the  enemy. 

As  General  Jackson  approached  Chancellorsville,  some 
slight  skirmishing  occurred  between  his  advanced  forces 
and  those  of  the  enemy. 

The  day  was  now  far  advanced,  and  General  Jackson, 
ordering  a  halt,  spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon  in  bring- 
ing up  his  command  and  assigning  them  to  the  positions 
they  were  to  occupy  the  next  day. 

General  Lee  arrived  at  night,  and  the  plan  of  opera- 
tions for  the  coming  day  was  arranged.  It  was  necessary 
to  act  promptly.  Sedgewick  Was  hovering  suspiciously 
t  about  Fredericksburg,  and  might  at  any  moment  drive 
back  the  little  force  left  to  check  him,  and  advance  to 
Hooker's  assistance.  It  was  impossible  to  gain  anything 
by  an^attack  upon  Hooker's  front,  as  its  great  strength 
would  enable  a  very  small  force  to  hold  it.     General' 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.   #  179 

Jackson  proposed  to  move  his  corps  to  the  left,  attack 
Hooker's  right  and  force  it  back  upon  Chancellorsville, 
and  General  Lee  gave  his  sanction  to  the  proposition. 

The  night  was  quite  cool.  Seeing  General  Jackson 
without  covering  or  protection  of  any  kind,  one  of  his 
aids  offered  him  his  cape,  and  after  much  persuasion  in- 
duced him  to  accept  it.  During  the  night  he  was  fearful 
that?  the  young  man  might  take  cold  from  being  deprived 
of  his  cape,  and  rising  softly,  threw  it  over  him  as  he  lay 
asleep,  and  then  lying  down  again,  passed  the  night  with- 
out any  thing  around  him.  This  produced  a  cold,  which 
afterwards  resulted  in  pneumonia.  He  was  always  careful 
of  the  comfort  of  others,  even  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  own. 

Early  the  next  morning  General  Jackson  began  his 
movement  upon  the  federal  right  flank.  General  Fitz 
Lee's  brigade  of  cavalry  was  thrown  towards  the  front 
and  between  the  column  of  General  Jackson  and  the 
enemy.  This  gallant  cavalier  successfully  covered  the 
movements  of  General  Jackson  and  prevented  the  enemy 
from  gaining  any  information  respecting  them. 

General  Jackson  took  with  him  only  the  three  divisions 
he  had  brought  with  him  from  Fredericksburg,  and  moved 
rapidly  towards  the  left  to  a  point  called  the  "  Furnace." 
From  the  "  Furnace"  he  marched  still  farther  to  the  left, 
and  passing  around  the  federal  right  flank,  moved  through 
the  tangled  undergrowth  of  the  Wilderness  until  he 
reached  Germanna  ford  on  the  Rapidan.  He  was  now 
completely  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  his  presence 
was  entirely  unsuspected  by  them. 

Ascending  a  hill  in  the  vreinity,  he  obtained  an  excel- 
lent view  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  hastening  to.  hi  ■; 
command,  prepared  to  attack  the  enemy. 


180  '  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

The  road  by  which  he  determined  to  advance  upon 
them  was  the  old  turnpike,  which  led  directly  to  the  fed- 
eral rear.  Rode's  division  was  formed  in  line  of  battle 
in  front ;  Hill  followed  at  a  distance  of  three  hundred 
yards,  and  Colston  marched  behind  Hill  at  the  same  dis- 
tance from  him.  The  undergrowth  was  so  thick,  that 
Hill's  and  Colston's  commands  were  afterwards  marched 
in  column  along  the  road,  and  only  Rodes  advanced  in 
line  of  battle.  The  ground  was  so  swampy,  that  the  ar- 
tillery was  forced  to 'march  in  column  on  the  road. 

Marching  rapidly  down  the  old  turnpike,  General  Jack- 
son extended  his  line  to  the  left,  intending  to  cut  off  the 
federal  forces  from  the  United  States  fords  and  crush 
them. 

The  enemy's  force  on  his  right  consisted  of  the  elev- 
enth army  corps,  under  General  Howard — formerly  com- 
manded by  Seigel.    .They  were  strongly  posted. 

Up  to  this  moment  the  federals  had  received  no  inti- 
mation of  General  Jackson's  approach,  and  his  attack 
took  them  completely  by  surprise,  and  filled  them  with 
dismay. 

Moving  forward  rapidly,  General  Jackson  made  a  furi- 
ous assault  upon  the  federal  line  and  swept  it  fiercely 
before  him.  The  suddenness  and  impetuosity  of  {he 
attack  demoralized  the  enemy,  and  in  a  short  time  a 
whole  army  corps  was  routed. 

A  yankee  correspondent  of  a  New  York  paper,  thus 
describes  the  scene : 

"  The  flying  Germans  came  dashing  over  the  field  in 
crowds,  stampeding  and  running  as  only  men  do  run  when 
convinced  that  sure  destruction  is  awaiting  them.  I  must 
confess  that  I  have  no  ability  to  do  justice  to  the  scenes 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  181 

that  followed.  It  was  my  lot  to  be  in  the  centre  of  the 
field  when  the  panic  burst  upon  us. '  May  I  never  be  a 
witness  to  another  such  scene*  On  one  hand  was  a  solid 
column  of  infantry  retreating  at  double-quick  ;  on  the 
other  was  a  dense  mass  of  human  beings  who  were  flying 
as  fast  as  their  legs  could  carry  them,  followed  up  by  the 
rebels  pouring  their  murderous  volleys  upon  us,  yelling 
and  hooting  to  increase  the  confusion ;  hundreds  of  cav- 
alry horses,  left  riderless  at  the  first  discharge  from  the 
rebels,  dashing  frantically  about  in  all  directions  ;  scores 
of  batteries  flying  from  the  field  ;  battery  wagons,  ambu- 
lances, horses,  men,  cannon,  caissons,  all  jumbled  and 
tumbled  together  in  one  inextricable  mass — and  the  mur- 
derous fire  of  the  rebels  still  pouring  in  upon  them !  To 
add  to  the  terror  of  the  occasion,  there  was  but  one 
means  of  escape  from  the  field,  and  that  through  a  little 
narrow  neck  or  ravine  washed  out  by  Scott's  creek. 
Towards  this  the  confused  mass  plunged  headlong.  For 
a  moment  it  seemed  as  if  no  power  could  avert  the  fright- 
ful calamity  that  threatened  the  entire  army.  On  came 
the  panic-stricken  crowd — terrified  artillery  riders  spur- 
ring and  lashing  their  horses  to  their  utmost ;  ambulances 
upsetting  and  being  dashed  to  pieces  against  trees  and 
stumps ;  horses  dashing  over  the  field ;  men  flying  and 
crying  with  alarm — a  perfect  torrent  of  passion  appa- 
rently uncontrolable.  The  men  ran  in  all  directions. 
They  all  seemed  possessed  with  an  instinctive  idea  of  the 
shortest  and  most  direct  line  from  the  point  whence  they 
started  to  the  United  States  mine  ford,  and  the  majority 
of  them  did  not  stop  till  they  had  reached  the  ford. 
Many  of  them,  on  reaching  the  river,  dashed  in  and  SAvam 
to  the  north  side,  and  arc  supposed  to  be  running  yet." 


182  LIHUTENANT-GENEIIAL 

» 

The  federal  right  was  now  being  doubled  up  on  its  left 
at  Chancellorsville,  and  it  was  necessary  to  press  forward 
without  delay. 

A.  P.  Hill's  division  was  thrown  forward  to  relieve 
Hodes,  whose  men  had  become  greatly  exhausted  by  their 
inarch  through  the  "Wilderness.  Hill  was  ordered  to  form 
his  men  on  both  sides  of  the  road  and  advance  upon  the 
enemy.  He  was  directed  to  refrain  from  firing  "  unless 
cavalry  approached  from  the  direction  of  the  enemy." 

Hill's  skirmishers  pressed  forward  and  soon  became 
actively  engaged  with  the  enemy.. 

It  was  now  very  dark,  and  being  anxious  to  obtain  the 
exact  position  of  the  'enemy  and  satisfy  himself  as  to 
their  movements,  General  Jackson  rode  forward  to  the 
line  of  skirmishers.  His  position  was  exceedingly  dan- 
gerous, as  the.  enemy's  sharpshooters  in  the  woods  in  front 
might  at  any  moment  kill  or  wound  him.  One  of  his 
aids  said  to  him : 

"  General,  don't  you  think  this  is  the  wrong  place  for 
you?" 

General  Jackson  turned  to  him  and  said  joyfully  : 

"  The  danger  is  all  over  :  the  enemy  is  routed  !  Go 
back  and  tell  A.  P.  Hill,  to  press  right  on !" 

Upon  finishing  his  observations,  and  discovering  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  approaching,  he  turned  to  ride  back, 
forgetting,  doubtless,  the  order  he  had  given.  As  the 
party  came  near  the  Southern  lines,  they  were  mistaken 
for  a  body  of  federal  cavalry  and  fired  upon.  General 
Jackson  was  struck  by  three  balls.  One  entered  his  left 
arm,  two  inches  below  the  shoulder  joint,  shattering  the 
bone  and  severing  the  principal  artery;  another  entered 
the  same  arm  between  the  elbow  ynd  the  wrist,  passing 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  183 

• 

out  through  the  palm  of  the  hand,  and  the  third  entered 
the  palm  of  the  right  hand,  about  the  middle,  and  passing 
through,  broke  two  of  the  bones.  This  occurred  about  8 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  on  the  plank  road,  about  fifty 
yards  in  advance  of  the  enemy.  One  of  General  Jack- 
son's staff  and  two  couriers  were  killed,  and  another  staff' 
officer  wounded  by  this  discharge.  General  Jackson  at 
once  fell  from  his  horse,  and  was  caught  by  Captain 
Wormley.  He  said  to  him  calmly,  as  that  officer  knelt 
by  him,   "All  my  wounds  are  by  my  own  men." 

The  firing  was  now  resumed  by  both  armies.  The 
enemy's  forces  advanced,  and  charged  over  General  Jack- 
son as  he  lay  upon  the  ground.  In  a  few  minutes  they 
were  driven  back  and  assistance  rendered  to  General 
Jackson.  He  was  at  once  placed  on  a  litter  and  sent  to 
the  rear.  •  He  had  to  be  carried  along  the  line  of  fire, 
and  one  of  the  litter  bearers  was  shot  down,  and  the 
general  was-  thrown  heavily  to  the  ground,  adding  to  the 
injury  done  to  his  arm,  and  hurting  his  side  severely. 
Seeing  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  litter-bearers 
to  carry  him  from  the  field  under  such  a  heavy  fire,  Gen- 
eral Jackson  directed  them  to  leave  him  .until  it  slackened, 
and  for  five  minutes  he  was  left  alone,  exposed  to  the 
fearful  storm  of  balls  that  swept  the  field  thickly  all 
around  him.  When  the  firing  slackened,  he  was  placed 
in  an  ambulance  and  carried  to  the  hospital  near  Wilder- 
ness, run. 

As  he  was  being  carried- from  the  field,  frequent  en- 
quiries were  made  by  the  men,  "Who  have  you  there?" 
He  turned  to  the  surgeon,  who  was  with  him,  and   said  : 

"Do  not  tell  the  troops  I  am  wounded." 

He  lost  much  blood,  and  but  for  .-.the  application  of  a 


184  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  . 

tourniquet,  would  have  bled  to  death.  For  two  hours  he 
was  almost  pulseless.  At  one  time  he  thought  he  was 
dying,  and  the  tourniquet  was  applied. 
.  General  Hill  being  disabled  by  a  wound,  General  Stu- 
art was  sent  for,  and  took  command  of  JaGkson's  corps. 
The  next  day  the  enemy  were  routed  and  driven  from 
Chancellorsville  to  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock.  On 
the  same  day  General  Sedgewick  crossed  at  Fredericks- 
burg, and  carried  the  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  place.  On 
Monday  (4th  May,)  General  Lee  moved  back  with  a  por- 
tion of  his  army,  and  drove  Sedgewick  across  the  river. 
Having  disposed  of  Sedgewick,  he  again  advanced  upon 
Hooker,  who  was  lying  close  to  the  banks  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock. A  severe  storm  delayed  his  movement,  and 
Hooker  taking  advantage  of  it  retreated  across  the  river. 

After  General  Jackson  was  carried  to  the  hospital,  and 
had  recovered  slightly  from  the  great  prostration  caused 
by  the  loss  of  so  much  blood,  Drs.  Black,  Coleman, 
McGuire  and  Walls,  the  surgeons  in  attendance  upon 
him,  held  a  consultation  with  reference  to  his  wounds, 
and  decided  that  amputation  was  necessary.  Dr.  McGuire 
approached  the  general,  and  asked  him : 

"If  we  find  amoutation  necessarv,  shall  it  be  done  at 
once?" 

General  Jackson  replied  promptly  and  firmly  : 

"Yes !  certainly — Dr.  McGuire  do  for  me  whatever 
you  think  right."  '  • 

The  operation  was  performed  while  the  general  was 
under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  and  he  bore  it  well. 
Sometime  afterwards,  he  stated  to  a  friend  that  his  sen- 
sation in  taking  chloroform  was  delightful,  that  he  was 
conscious  of  everything  that  was  done  to  him,  that  the 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  185 

sawing  of  his  bone  sounded  like  the  sweetest  music,  and 
every' feeling  was  pleasant. 

As  soon  as  General  Jackson  was  wounded,  he  sent 
information  of  the  sad  event  to  General  Lee.  The  mes- 
senger reached  his  headquarters  about  4  o'clock  on  Sun- 
day morning,  and  found  the  commander-in-chief  resting 
upon  a  bed  of  straw.  'Upon  being'  informed  of  General 
Jackson's  misfortune,  he  exclaimed: 

a  Thank  God  it  is  no  worse  !  God  be  praised  he  is 
still  alive!"  Then  he  added:  "Any  victory  is  a  dear 
one  that  deprives  us  of  the  services  of  Jackson,  even  for 
a  short  time." 

The  officer  who  brought  the  information  remarked  that 
he  believed  it  was  General  Jackson's  intention  to  have 
pressed  the  enemy  on  Sunday,  had  he  been  spared.  Gen- 
eral Lee  said  quietly :  u  These  people  shall  be  pressed 
to-day."  Rising  and  dressing,  he  partook  of  his  simple 
meal  of  ham  and  crackers  and  set  out  for  the  field.  The 
history  of  that  day  proved  that  he  remembered  his 
promise. 

After  the  defeat  of  Hooker,  General  Lee  addressed  to 
General  Jackson  the  following  noble  letter,  which  is  char- 
acteristic of  him : 

General : 

I  have  just  received  your  note  informing  me  that  you  were 
wounded.  I  cannot  express  my  regret  at  the  occurrence.  Could  I 
have  dictated  events,  I  should  have  chosen  (or  the  good  of  the  coun- 
try, to- have  been  disabled  in  your  stead. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  the  victory  which  is  due  to  your  skill  and 
energy. 

When  this  note  was  read  to  General  Jackson,  it  is  said 
■he  exclaimed  with  emotion  : 

"Far  better  for   the  Confederacy  that  ten  Jacksons' 
24 


186  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

should  have  fallen,  than   one  Lee."     Then  he   added, 
calmly  and  humbly :   "  General  Lee  should  give  the  glory, 
to  God." 

On  Sunday  morning  he  slept  for  a  short  while.  During 
the  day  he  was  very  cheerful.  Pointing  to  his  mutilated 
left  arm,  he  said  to  one  of  his  aids  : 

"  Many  poople  would  would  regard  this  as  a  great  mis- 
fortune. I  regard  it  as  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  of 
niy  life."      .  '   ■ 

The  officer  replied  : 

"  All  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  that  love 
God." 

"Yes!  yes!"  was  the  earnest  reply.     "  That's  it." 
He  sent  for  Mrs.  Jackson,  who  was  in  Richmond. 
He  asked  many  questions  about  the  battle  of  the  previ- 
ous day,  and  spoke  cheerfully  of  the  final  result.    Turning 
to  a  friend,  he  said : 

u  If  I  had  not  been  wounded,  or  had  had  an  hour  more 
of  daylight,  I  would  have  cut  off  the  enemy  from  the 
road  to  the  United  States  ford,  and  we  would  have  had 
them  entirely  surrounded,  and  they  would  have  been 
obliged  to  surrender,  or  cut  their  way  out :  they  had  no 
other  alternative.  My  troops  may  sometimes  fail  in  -dri- 
ving the  enemy  from  a  position,"  he  added  with  a  smile; 
"  but  the  enemy  always  fail  to  drive  my  men  from  a  po- 
sition." 

He  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  Gen- 
eral Rodes  during  the  battle,  and  said  that  he  had  fairly 
won  his  major-general's  commission,  which  ought  to  date 
from  the  day  of  the  battle.  General  Jackson  had  con- 
ferred this  rank  upon  him,  on  the  field,  and  the  president 
afterwards  confirmed  it. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  187 

He  complained  during  the  day  of  the  effects  of  his  fall 
from  the  litter,  though  as  yet  they  were  not  visible. 

On  Sund;^  night  he  slept  well. 

On  Monday  he  was  carried  to  Chandler's  house,  near 
Guinea's  station.  He  was  still  cheerful,  and  questioned 
•those  around  him  as  to  the  battle  of  Sunday.  When  lie 
was  told  of  the  grand  charge  of  his  old  "  Stonewall  bri- 
gade,"  led  by  General  Stuart  in  person,  how  with  the 
shout  "Charge,  and  remember  Jackson  ! "  they  pressed 
on  in  that  irresistible  advance,  ove*r  the  dead  and  the 
dying,  antl  how  with  torn  and  mangled  ranks  they  drove 
the  enemy  from  the  field,  his  eyes  lb  shed,  his  breast 
heaved,  and  he  exclaimed  with  deep  emotion  : 

"  It  was  just  like  them  !  ii  was  just  like  them  !  They 
are  a  noble  body  of  men." 

Afterwards  he  remarked  that  "  the  men  who  live 
through  this  war  will  be  proud  to  say  to  their  children, 
4 1  was  one  of  the  Stonewall  brigade.'  He  also  said 
that  the  term  "  Stonewall"  belonged 'to  his  old  brigade, 
rather  than  to  himself ;  and  insisted  that  it  should  be 
called  by  it.  He  was  very  much  affected  by  the  news  of 
the  death  of  his  friend,  General  Paxton. 

During  his  sufferings,  his  mind  very  frequently  ran 
upon  religious  subjects.  Speaking  with  one  of  his  staff 
as  to  whether  those  who  were  miraculously  cured  by 
Jesus,  ever  had  a  return  of  the  disease,  he  exclaimed: 

"  I  do  not  think   they  could  have  returned,  for  the 
power  was   too   great — the  poor*  paralytic  would  never' 
again  shake  with  palsy.     Oh  !  for  infinite  power  !" 

While  he  was  being  carried  to  Guinea's,  he  complained 

•    of  the   intense  heat,  and.  asked  that  a  wet  cloth  might 

be   placed   to    his    stomach.      This   was    done,   and   he 


188  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

seemed  to  be  greatly  relieved.  On  Monday  night  lie  slept 
"well. 

On  Tuesday  he  seemed  to  be  better  and  ate  with  relish. 
During  the  day  he  asked  his  surgeon : 

"  Can  you  tell  me  from  the  appearance  of  my  wounds, 
how  long  I  will  be  kept  from  the  field  V 

He  was  told  that  he  was  doing  remarkably  well,  and  if 
he  continued  to  improve,  it  would  not  be  long.  Soon 
after  this  he  expressed  a  wish  to  see  the  members  of  his 
staff,  but  was  advised  not  to  do  so,  as  he  needed  repose. 

On  Wednesday  his  wounds  seemed  to  be  improving.  It 
had  been  arranged  that  he  should  go  to  Richmond  to-day, 
but  a  rain  prevented  it.  At  night  he  slept  very  badly. 
His  surgeon,  who  had  been  without  sleep  for  three  nights, 
was  advised  to  take  some  rest,  and  while  he  was  asleep 
General  Jackson  complained  of  sickness,  and  ordered  his 
servant  to  place  a  wet  cloth  to  his  stomach.  About  day- 
light, the  surgeon  was  awakened  by  this  servant,  who  in- 
formed him  that  the  general  was  suffering  great  pain. 
Upon  examination  it  was  found  that  pneumonia  had  set 
in,  resulting  from  his  exposure  on  the  night  before  the 
battle.  His  system  was  too  weak  and  exhausted  to  cast 
it  off,  and  the  disease  increased  alarmingly. 

On  Thursday  Mrs.  Jackson  arrived  from  Richmond. 
This  gave  him  great  satisfaction,  and  he  seemed  to  im- 
prove under  the  faithful  nursing  of  his  wife.  He  was  in 
pain  during  the  day,  but  at  night  all  pain  had  left  him. 
•  Still  he  suffered  greatty  from  prostration. 

On  Friday  he  was  free  from  pain,  but  the  prostration 
increased. 

Saturday  passed  away,  and  he  grew  feebler  every  hour. 

On  Sunday  morning  it  was  evident  to  all  that  he  was 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  189 

sinking  rapidly.-  Mrs.  Jackson  was  informed  of  this,  and 
requested  to  make  it  known  to  her  husband. 

UpGn-this  day  he  was  very  calm  and  cheerful,  and  en- 
deavored to  cheer  those  around  him.  Turning  to  his 
wife,  he  said  to  her  tenderly : 

"  I  know  you  would  gladly  give  your  life  for  me,  but  I 
am  perfectly  resigned.  Do  not  be  sad  :  I  hope  I  shall 
recover.  Pray  for  me,  but  always  remember  in  your 
prayers  to  use  the  petition,  '  Thy  will  be  done.' ' 

He  advised- her  in  the  event  of  his  death,  to  return  to 
her  father's  home,  and  added  : 

"  You  have  a  kind,  good  father.  IJut  there  is  no  one 
so  kind  and  good  as  your  heavenly  father." 

During  his  illness  he  manifested  towards  all  around 
him,  and  especially  to  his  wife,  a  greater  degree  of  gen- 
tleness "and  tenderness  than  was  usual  with  him.  It  was 
the  calm  sternness  of  the  warrior  giving  place  to  the  out- 
gushings  of  a  pure  and  noble  heart.  When  the  surgeons 
told  his  wife  that  he  could  not  live  more  than  two* hours, 
she  informed  him  of  the  fact.  He  replied  that  he  was 
willing  to  die,  and  added : 

"It  will  be  infinite  gain  to  be  translated  to  heaven,  and 
be  with  Jesus." 

It  had  ever  been  with  him  a  cherished  wish  to  die  oh 
the  Sabbath,  and  now  God  was  about  to  grant  his  wish. 
It  had  been  his  custom  to  see  that  religious  services  were 
held  regularly  in  his  camp,  and  early  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing he  asked  who  was  to  preach  to  the  men  that  day,  and 
upon  learning  that  they  would  not  be  deprived  that  day 
of  their  accustomed  services,  seemed  satisfied. 

After  parting  with  his  wife  and  his  friends,  and  send- 
ing messages  to  the  various  generals  with  whom  he  had 


190  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

been  associated,  and  to  his  men,  and  expressing  a  wish 
he  had  frequently  mentioned  before,  that  General  Ewell 
should  succeed  him  in  the-  command  of  his  corps,  and  his 
desire  to  be  buried  in  Lexington,  Virginia,  he  became 
slightly  delerious.  Occasionally  in  his  wanderings  he 
would  speak  of  some  religious  subject,  and  then  give  an 
order.     Among  his  last  words,  he  was  heard  to  exclaim: 

"Order  A.  P.  Hill  to  prepare  for  action."  "Pass  the 
infantry  to  the  front."  "Tell  Major  Hawks  to  send  for- 
ward provisions  to  the  men."  "Let  us  cross  over  the 
river,  and  rest  under  the  shade  of  the  trees." 

Then  he  sank  gradually,  and  at  fifteen  minutes  after 
three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  tenth  of  May,  he 
expired  peacefully.  His  soul  had  passed  over  the  dark 
river  and  was  resting  under  the  trees  of  heaven.  The 
brief  but  eventful  life  of  this  great  and  good  man  was 
ended,  and  now  in  his  fortieth  year  he  was  lost  to  his 
country  that  needed  him  so  much. 

The*  news  of  the  wounding  of  General  Jackson  filled 
the  army  with  the  most  profound  and  undisguised  grief. 
His  men  loved. him  devotedly,  and  he  was  the  idol  of  the 
whole  army.  Many  stout-hearted,  veterans,  who.  had, 
under  his  guidance,  borne  hardships  and  privations  in- 
numerable, and  dangers  the  most  appalling,  without  a 
murmur,  wept  like  children  when  told  that  their  idolized 
general  was  no  more.  The  death  of  General  Jackson 
was  communicated  to  the  army  in  the  following  order : 

Headquarters  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  ^ 

May  11th,  1863.  j 

General  Orders  No.  61. 

With  deep  grief  the  commanding  general  announces  to  the 
army  the  death  of  Lieutenant-general  T.  J.  Jackson,  who  expired 
on  the  10th  inst.,  at  quarter  past  3  P.  M.  The  daring,  skill^and  energy 


THOMAS   J.   JACKSON.  191 

of  this  great  and  good  soldier,  by  the  decree  of  an  All-Wise  Provi- 
dence, are  now  lost  to  us..  But  while  Ave  mourn  his  death,  we  feel 
that  his  spirit  still  lives,  and  will  inspire  the  whole  army  with  his 
indomitable  courage,  and  unshaken  confidence  in  God,  as  our  hope 
and  strength.  Let  his  name  be  a  watchword  to  his  corps,  who  have 
followed  him  to  victory  on -so  many  fields.  Let  his  officers  and  sol- 
diers emulate  his  invincible   determination   to  do  everything  in   the 

defence  of  our  beloved  country. 

R.  E.  Lee,  General. 

Throughout  the  country  the  news  of  the  wounding  of 
General  Jackson  had  carried  the  greatest  grief  and 
alarm.  The  people  had  learned  to  look  upon  him  as  the 
great  champion  of  the  South,  and  they  were  filled  with 
serious  apprehension,  when  they  contemplated  the  proba- 
bility of  losing  his  services.  The  greatest  anxiety  to 
hear  from  him  was  everywhere  manifested ;  for  there  was 
not  a  heart  in  the  South  that  did  not  throb  more  warmly 
when  the  name  of  "Stonewall  Jackson"  was  mentioned. 
A  week  of  long  and  anxious  suspense  passed  away,  and 
at  last,  when  all  were,  to  a  certain  degree,  prepared  for 
it,  the  news  came  that  the  idol  of  the  South  was  no  more. 
The '  first  information  of  the  death  of  General  Jacksoa 
was  telegraphed  to  the  governor  of  Virginia,  and  then 
hurried  all  over  the  land,  carrying  sorrow  wherever  it 

we&t. 

On  Monday  morning  the  11th  of  May,  it  was  announced 
that  the  remains  of  General  Jackson  would  reach  Rich- 
mond during- the  day,  and  the  mayor  of  the  city  at  once 
requested  all  persons  to  suspend  business  after  ten  o'clock, 
in  token  of  their  respect  for  the  departed  hero.  All 
stores,  workshops,  the  government  departments,  and  all 
places  in  which  labor  was  performed,  were  closed.  Flags 
were  Jwrog  at  half-mast,  and  a  deep  silence  reigned  over 


192     •  LIELTEXANT-GENEIL. 

the  capital  of  Virginia.  Large  crowds  filled  the  streets, 
and  in  spite  of  the  intense  heat,  waited  patiently  for  the 
arrival  of  the  cars  from  Fredericksburg. 

Shortly  after  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  special 
train  containing  the  precious  burden,  moved  slowly  into 
the  city.  Only  the  solemn  peals  of  the  bells'  as  they 
tolled  their  mournful  knell,  broke  the  deep  silence  that 
reigned  over  everything. 

At  the  depot  the  coffin  was  removed  from  the  cars,  and 
placed  in  a  hearse  to  be  carried  to  the  mansion  .of  the 
governor.  The  escort  which  received  it  consisted  of 
Major-general  Elzey  and  staff,  the  State  -Guard  of  Vir- 
ginia, with  colors  shrouded  in  mourning,  the  forty-fourth 
North  Carolina  and  the  first  Virginia  regiments,  (after 
which  came  the  hearse  and  General  Jackson's  staff,)  the 
city  authorities  and  citizens  on  foot. 

The  remains  were  escorted  to  the  mansion  of  .the  gov- 
ernor, and  placed  in  the  reception  parlor.  The  lid  of  the 
coffin  was  removed,  the  new  flag  of  the  Confederacy, 
which  had  never  before  been  used  for  any  purposed,  was 
•thrown  over  it,  and  a  single  wreath  of  laurel  laid  upon 
the  lifeless  breast^  During  the  evening  his  friends  were 
allowed  to  visit  the  body.  The  only  change  that  was 
perceptible,  was  that  the  features  seemed  some#hat 
smaller  than  they  were  in  life.  But  there  was  still  the 
firm,  grave  expression  which  had  always  dwelt  there,  and 
above  all,  there  rested  upon  the  lifeless  countenance  an 
expression  of  happiness  and  peace,  so  perfect  and  so  in- 
tense, that  the  gazer  was  awed  and  thrilled  by  it. 

During  the  night  the  body  was  embalmed,  and  a  plaster 
cast  of  his  features  taken,  in  order  that  they  might  be 
preserved  in  marble. 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON.  193 

• 

The  next  day,  all  the  honors  that  his  native  state  could 
lavish  upon  her  noble  son  were  heaped  upon  him.  At 
eleven  o'clock  his  body  was  removed  from  the  executive 
mansion,  and  conveyed  with  appropriate  ceremonies  to 
the  capitol  of  Virginia. 

The  procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order,  the 
troops  marching  with  reversed  arms  : 

ORDER    OF    PROCESSION. 

A  brass  band. 

The  19th  regiment  of  Virginia  infantry. 

The  5Gth  regiment  of  Virginia  infantry. 

The  State  Guard  of  Virginia. 

Major-general  Pickett  and  staff,  mounted. 

A  battery  (6   pieces)  of  artillery. 

A  squadron  of  cavalry. 

THE    HEARSE, 

containing  the  coffin, 

With    Major-general    Ewell,    Brigadier-generals    Winder,    Churchill, 

Corse,  Stuart,  (G.  II.)  Kemper  and  Garnett.  and  Admiral 

Forrest  of  the  navy  as  pall  bearers. 

The  favorite  horse  of  General  Jackson,  fully  caparisoned  and  led  by 

his  servant. 
The  members  of  the  old  "Stonewall  brigade,"  who  were  present  in 

the  city. 

A  band  of  music. 

Major-general  Elzey  and  staff. 

The  officials  of  the  military  department  of  Henrico. 

A  carriage  containing  the  president  of  the  Confederate  Stales. 

The  members  of  the  cabinet  on  foot. 

The  heads  of  bureaux,  and  their  clerks,  on  foot. 

The  governor  of  Virginia  and  his  aids. 

The  state  officers  and  clerks. 

The  mayor  and   city  authorities. 

The  judges  of  the  state  and  confederate  courts. 

Citizens  on  foot. 

The   procession  moved  from   the  executive  mansion, 
25 


/ 


; 


194  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 

down  Governor  street  into  Main,  up  Main  to  Second, 
through  second  to  Grace,  and  down  Grace  to  the  capitol' 
square. 

The  streets  were  filled  with  large  crowds.  The  mourn- 
ful cortege  moved  on  in  silence,  which  was  only  broken 
by  the  solemn  strains  of  music,  and  the  discharge  of  ar- 
tillery at  intervals  of  half  an  hour.  Tears  rolled  down 
many  cheeks,  and  hundreds  who  had  known  General 
Jackson  only  by  his  great  deeds,  wept  as  though  mourn- 
ing for  a  brother.  Such  a  universal  outburst  of  grief  had 
never  been  witnessed  in  Virginia  since  the  death  of 
Washington. 

•  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  procession  at  the  square,  the 
column  was  halted,  the  body  removed  and  borne  into  the 
capitol,  where  it  was  laid  in  state  in  the  hall  of  the  house 
of  representatives  of  the  Confederate  States. 

At  least  twenty  thousand  persons  visited  the  hail  to 
behold  the  remains  of  the  hero  that  day. 

The  next  morning  the  remains  were  placed  on  a  special 
train  and  conveyed  to  Lynchburg.  It.  was  hoped  that 
General  Jackson  would  be  buried  in  Hollywood  cemetery, 
near  Richmond.  There  Virginia  has  prepared  a  last 
resting-place  for  her  honored  children.  There  rest  the 
ashes  of  Monroe  and  Tyler  and  many  of  the  good  and 
brave  of  this  revolution,  and  it  was  hoped  that  there  too 
would  rest  the  dust  of  General  Jackson.  But  it  was  his 
wish  to  sleep  in  his  dearly  loved  home  in  the  Valley,  and 
thither  all  that  remained  of  him  was  carried.  On  Wed- 
nesday morning  the  remains  passed  through  Lynchburg. 
Minute  guns  were  fired,  bells  were  tolled,  and  a  large 
procession  of  citizens  followed  the  body  through  the  city. 

On  Thursday  afternoon  they  reached  Lcxntgton.    They 


V 


i 


THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

were  met  at  the  canal  by  the  corps  of  cadel 
fessors  of  the  Institute,  and  a  large  number  of  cN 
and  escorted  to  the  Institute  barracks. 

The  body  of  General  Jackson  was  placed  in  tl  e 
lecture  room  which  had  once  been  his.  Two  yeajs  a£ 
he  had  left  it  an  humble  and  almost  unknown  man  ;  no^\ 
he  Returned  to  it  with  the  hero's  laurel  wreath  encircling 
his  brows,  and  enshrined  forever  in  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen.  With  the  exception  fof  the  heavy  mourning 
drapery  with  which  it  was  hung,  the  room  was  just  as  he 
had  left  it.  It  had  not  been  occupied  during  his  absence. 
The  body  was  deposited  just  in  front  of  the  chair  in 
which  he  used  to  sit.  It.  was  a  beautiful  and  a  touching 
scene,  and  brought  tears  to  every  eye  that  witnessed  it. 

Guns  were  fired  every  half  hour  during  the  day  by  the 
cadet  battery,  and  the  deepest  grief  exhibited  by  every 
one. 

The  next  day,  the  15th  of  May,  General  Jackson  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Lexington,  where  rest  the 
remains  of  his  first  wijfe  and  child. 


He  has  gone,  but  his  spirit  is  still  with  his  countrymen. 
Oh  !  may  it  animated  each  heart  and  nerve  each  arm  to 
strike,  as  he  struck,  for  the  freedom  of  the  land. 

There  in  the  beautiful  Valley  of  Virginia,  with  which 
his  name  is  so  imperishably  connected,  the  hero  lies 
sleeping.  Around  him  the  "  everlasting  hills"  keep 
eternal  guard,  and  the  deep  and  unwavering  love  of  his 
stricken,  but  still  glorious  mother,  watches  with  tender 
devotion  over  his  sacred  dust.  Ages  shall  roll  awa}T, 
empires  crumble   into  dust,,  nations  pass  into  oblivion. 


MP 


fENANT-GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 


memory  of  Jackson  will  still  shine  out  in  all  its 

end  radient  splendor.     And  when  the  last  great 

.  >  shall  sound,  and  the  radient  light  of  the  resurrec- 

q  morn  shall  break  away  the  gloom  which  overshrouds 

me  ^prld,  Virginia,  whose  pure  heart  beats  but  for  God 

and  duty,  shall  there  be  found  still  watching  by  the  tomb 

of  Jackson. 

And  yet,  he  is  not  Virginia's  alone :  God  gave  him  to 
the  world. 


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